So...the day has come at last. Tonight I become the 63rd Vicar of St Mary's, Battersea, a beautiful historic Georgian church on the banks of the River Thames in South London. I'll be serving a diverse parish of both wealthy and poorer people. Since the moment I was asked to take on the role I've been so excited. There's been all the stuff to do with leaving my last parish in Sanderstead (South Croydon), all the hard work of moving house, a bit of holiday and a few days of final preparations. Tonight the Bishop comes and I'll gather with friends, family, colleagues and people from Battersea, Sanderstead and my previous parishes to join in praying for me and for the journey ahead.
I guess it's like the beginning of any new job...will they like me? will I like them? what are the things that are going to excite me and the things that are going to be challenging? From what I've experienced so far, everyone is really excited about the future and tremendously warm.
So, amid all the pomp and ceremony of tonight - all the spiritual energy, joyful worship, and solemnity of the occasion - it's time to trust God, to be myself, and to have a quiet moment of dedication for the future. And I hope we all remember (and are reminded) that this event is not primarily about me or even the parish, but about God's purpose for the world. One of the things about the Church of England is that every piece of England is in a parish; every square inch. When a Vicar gets a new parish she or he is asked to care for the whole thing: the dirty, dark bits as well as the nice areas; the places of despair as well as the places of hope; the people of the parish and not just those who come to church. I hope my ministry will reflect all of that in the coming years.
