Rector - Revd. Teresa Townsend

Dear Friends,

Belated Happy New Year wishes to you if I’ve not seen you since 2026 began, even though this edition of Ramblings from the Rectory is for our February magazines.

Like many of you, I imagine, I’ve spent time watching the news or reading the papers and struggling to comprehend what is going on in our world at the moment. There are times when I feel fearful, others when I am simply incredulous at what appears to be happening. I often wonder where accountability for action – or inaction – is really being held. Too often our political and economic settings seem at odds with the need for us to work together, to build peace, and to share resources through friendship rather than demand or greed.

Headlines about the Church of England can also bring heartache. Matters of real concern are sometimes reduced to snippets and soundbites, particularly in this TikTok era, where the most sensational elements are heard and often taken out of context. That can distort the reality of life in our local churches.

There is not getting away from it – the Church of England has work to do. Yet what is rarely reported is the quiet faithfulness and generosity lived out at parish level every day. Change is happening. Safeguarding is taken seriously, and we continue to encourage everyone who attends our churches to be aware of how we keep one another safe and notice those who may need help. That is what families do: we love and care for one another, even when we don’t always agree. As followers of Christ, that is what we are called to do.

The churches across our parishes are deeply committed to sharing the love they have for Jesus. We are ordinary people, living ordinary lives, not always getting things right, but choosing to be a family together.

Our Christmas services once again saw an increase in attendance across the range of worship we offered, and over recent years our regular weekly services have welcomed new people across all parishes. That is good news. At the same time, we have sadly said goodbye to some faithful and much-loved members of our church families, and they are greatly missed.

Whatever is happening in the world or in the news, our churches continue to stand as beacons of welcome, hope and faith, and as a visible presence of 

God in our communities. This year we are focusing on how we can grow in faith ourselves and encourage others to find a spiritual home with us. Our theme for the year is ‘Sowing Seeds’.

We will be exploring ways that meet people where they are, creating opportunities to worship in different ways, to pray, and making space for questions about how life with Jesus might help in a world that feels increasingly secular. Our churches remain open every day, offering quiet places for reflection and stillness.

This is not a brand-new idea, but builds on what the Church has been doing for generations. ‘Sowing Seeds’ invites us to consider what we can plant now to grow, strengthen and sustain our church families for the future.

As I look out at the Rectory garden, I see last year’s dormant plants, their seed heads still feeding the birds through the winter. They remind me that what our churches offer continues to nourish people, even when growth is not immediately visible. And as the first green shoots of spring push through, I’m reminded that there is always hope of new life, even when things feel difficult. 

I am genuinely excited about the year ahead: about continuing to show the love of Jesus in our communities and about noticing his presence in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary moments of life. My prayer is that the good already growing across our parishes will continue, and that the seeds we sow now will be nurtured for generations to come.

One of the key ways we can grow and remain sustainable is by hearing from you. What would help you feel more at home in our churches? What barriers do you face – timing, work, family commitments, or something else? Please do get in touch and share.

There is a real sense of joy and anticipation within our churches, and we would love to share it with you.

Every blessing

Teresa