Author: Paul McFadden

𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 ‘𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’ 𝘢𝘯𝘥 ‘𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵’ 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵. “𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺,” 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, “𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.”

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 – 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.

Arriving back in England just in time for Easter certainly was jumping in at the deep end adjusting to family, church and climate. It was a great joy to have twelve of the family at lunch on Easter day. My body, having acclimatised perfectly to the heat of Mahajanga, seems not to be prepared to adjust back again and I shall go to the grave moaning about the cold.

On my first week back the Bishop of Lincoln invited me to be an honorary assistant bishop of Lincoln. Nine months later the legal papers have not been processed to the point where they can be signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Safeguarding procedures and learning a new vocabulary of church terminology (key mission/festival/resource/hub churches, Mission Partnerships…) have been quite a learning curve.

The first news from Madagascar at Easter was extremely sad. Sister Jacqueline, the leader of our Anglican Sisters, died of cancer. This was a hard blow to the Community as her predecessor had died of Covid. Both were vivacious and extremely capable, outgoing and loving Christian women.

With my departure from Mahajanga all bishop’s scholarships and handouts ceased abruptly which many recipients didn’t believe would happen although there was plenty of advance notice. The Malagasy are extreme optimists! Unfortunately, so also did some building projects and I have been trying to get them going again. I have given priority to the work at Port Bergé. There, thanks to those of you who have sent donations (especially St John the Baptist, Barnet) we are just completing the roof of the new church and continuing with school buildings. The diocese of Canterbury had given a generous grant for the church but the Archdeacon doubled the size of the church I had envisaged and so ran out of money! The school at Port Bergé is a great success story. There are now 756 pupils with the result that it is desperately short of classrooms and desks. I have weekly (at least) phone calls keeping me in the picture in the hope that I will wave my magic wand.

Soon after I left Madagascar the election of a new bishop took place. For various reasons this was annulled and the process restarted with the Archbishop of the Indian Ocean’s candidate being elected. He is the Ven Darrell Critch of the breakaway Anglican Church of North America. Archbishop James Wong has been the spokesman of GAFCON and all those who do not accept the role of Canterbury in the Anglican Communion. The new bishop will be consecrated and installed on Sunday, 15th December. Both Archbishops (Canterbury and Indian Ocean) leave office in January.

Far away from these church politics I now enjoy ministering to small rural congregations in glorious, but cold, ancient churches in our nearby villages on Sunday while Sarah continues to worship at Bourne Abbey. In many ways it seems like “old times” and it is hard to believe I was travelling by dugout canoe earlier this year!

Thank you to all who have read Our Mad Life for the last five years, and contributed and prayed for my diocese in Madagascar. I could not have completed any projects without you.

May we all have a peaceful and merry Christmas spreading the message of love and goodwill to this divided and torn but beautiful world.

God bless you and yours,

+Hall

There was a large congregation in St Columb’s Cathedral, on Sunday 1st December, for one of the highlights of the festive season, the traditional candlelight Advent Procession. Based on the Great Advent Antiphons, the service is held in deep affection by a devoted congregation, many of whom return year after year to listen to readings, hymns and anthems on the theme ‘Darkness into Light’.

The Christmas trees lining the aisles in preparation for tomorrow’s opening of the Cathedral’s Christmas Festival lent a festive atmosphere to the special occasion. As is customary, though, the church was plunged into darkness for the beginning of the service, representing the darkness before creation and the darkness of sin.

The four Cathedral Choirs – directed by Nicky Morton and Louis Fields – began singing in the gallery of the Cathedral, gradually making their by candlelight from the west end of the church to the chancel, symbolising our journey of faith towards Christ.

This evening’s service was led by the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Raymond Stewart, assisted by the Cathedral’s Pastoral Assistant, Rev Canon John Merrick. The lessons and readings were read by People’s Churchwarden, Miss Muriel Hamilton; Diocesan Reader Mr David Bell; and Parish Readers Ms Jacqui Armstrong and Mrs Heather Fielding.

The Diocese of Derry & Raphoe has published a new, free prayer resource, ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’, to help people pray for our Church and the community.

The pocket-sized booklet reflects the issues and realities that many of God’s people are grappling with currently, such as the cost-of-living crisis, ill health, loneliness and anxiety. There are prayers, too, for political leaders, for the renewal of the Church, for the building up of faith, for clergy, for vocations, for the missionary Church and – locally – for “vision and purpose” as the ongoing diocesan review continues.

Commending the booklet to parishioners, Bishop Andrew said he hoped they would find its readings and prayers helpful. “Being able to pray is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. Let’s use that gift as we seek to build hope and chart the future of our parishes and diocese.”

The new resource includes ‘Prayers for Your Parish’, ‘Prayers for the Diocese’, ‘Prayers for Your Wider Church’, ‘Prayers for those Struggling with Life’, ‘Prayers to Build Up Faith’, ‘Prayers to Build Vision and Hope’ and ‘Prayers for Mission & Pioneering’.

‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is similar to a previous prayer resource, ‘Hope in the Pandemic’, which was produced four years ago to encourage parishioners during the Covid–19 crisis; it proved extremely popular throughout the diocese and far beyond. Bishop Andrew hopes ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ will prove equally reassuring and just as popular.

“In almost 50 parish groups in over 110 churches, our diocese has faithfully served God through challenges in the past,” Bishop Andrew said, “and we look to God with confidence into the future, knowing that He is always faithful and His love is the same, ‘yesterday, today and forever.’”

‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is available free. Anyone looking for a copy should contact their rector, in the first instance, or they can get in touch with the Diocesan Office: 24 London St, Londonderry BT48 6RQ.

Two parishes in Londonderry have been recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Voluntary Service, which celebrate the “outstanding work” of volunteer groups – “unsung heroes” – throughout the UK. They’re among 22 groups in Northern Ireland named in this year’s list, which also includes Ulster Project Derry/Londonderry.

Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK. His Majesty The King pledged to continue the Award to ensure that volunteers from across the UK were recognised for the services they provided within their communities. Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

St. Augustine’s Church Volunteering Group was recognised for “overcoming isolation and extending welcome through inclusion and events at a polarised interface”. The Rector of St Augustine’s, Rev Nigel Cairns, has it as “incredible news” and recognition of many years of volunteering. He praised all those who had contributed to the outreach of ‘the Wee Church on the Walls’ down through the years.

“A huge ‘thank you’ and well done to all who volunteer at St. Augustine’s,” Rev Cairns said. “A huge retrospective ‘thank you’ to the memory of those who have gone before us and who were instrumental in their vision, outreach and community engagement, and upon whose work we have built.

“If you help at the wee church to welcome tourists, help with catering events for the community, serve LEAH lunches, move furniture, organise arts events, oversee concerts, provide talks, keep the grounds looking beautiful, provide flowers, provide a welcome, make a ‘cross in your pocket’ for the many visitors, or pray for the dozens of prayer requests received through the church café and tourist ministry – or any other voluntary role which engaged and encouraged the wider community over the years – then you’re part of this award. Congratulations one and all.”

The Cathedral Youth Club, in Londonderry’s Fountain Estate, has been recognised for “providing resources and support for youth and elderly, facilitating community learning and promoting good health”. The youth club, which has an ‘open door’ policy, serves as a community hub for people of all ages, including young people, babies, toddlers, young mothers and senior citizens.

The club, which is managed by Jeanette Warke M.B.E., is open every day from 9am to 9pm, and provides programmes and activities such as a homework support club, after school activities, arts and crafts sessions, history classes and yoga sessions. It also runs a diner, where people gather daily to enjoy fellowship.

Among the other organisations recognised this year is the Ulster Project which, for almost 50 years, has been working with Christian teenagers in Northern Ireland and the United States, to educate them and develop them as leaders to effect change in their communities. Its citation says its KAVS is for “promoting peace by instilling shared values of mutual respect and understanding in young people”.

Hundreds of people gathered at the War Memorial in the centre of Londonderry, this morning, for a service and Act of Remembrance to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for freedom in the two World Wars and in other, more recent, conflicts.

This morning’s Service – under a benign autumn sky – was led by the Pastoral Assistant at St Columb’s Cathedral, Rev Canon John Merrick, who was joined by senior clergy from the four main Churches.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster; the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown; the Minister of First Derry Presbyterian Church, Rev Colin Jones; and the Minister at Carlisle Road Methodist Church, Rev Peter Morris, led those present in prayers and hymn-singing, including ‘Abide With Me’.

The annual ceremony is held on the Sunday nearest Armistice Day. It included a solemn ceremony during which wreaths were laid by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL; political and civic dignitaries; and representatives of various military and policing services.

The Britannia and William King Bands provided music for the event, including a rendition of the National Anthem and a poignant playing of The Last Post.

Immediately afterwards, a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was held at St Columb’s Cathedral.

The Bishop of Kondoa in Tanzania has thanked people here for the warmth of their welcome during his week-long visit to the Northwest to initiate a five-year mission link between his diocese and the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.

Most Rev Dr Given Gaula was speaking in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe where he preached the first of two sermons at a Service of Evening Prayer to launch the new partnership agreement. The companionship link could see groups and individuals from each diocese visiting each other to witness and share in work for the Kingdom, and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.

During this evening’s service, Bishop Andrew Forster presented Bishop Given with a pectoral cross, cut from the same piece of ancient bog oak as the cross he himself wears. The crosses were carved by the Bishop’s Curate of the Ardara Group of Parishes, Rev Robert Wray.

“What I hope,” Bishop Andrew told Dr Gaula, “is that whenever you wear this cross, it will remind you to pray for us.” Pointing to his own cross, he said, “Whenever I wear this cross it will remind me that your cross is made from the same piece of wood, and I will pray for you. And it reminds us that even though we come from very different parts of the world we are children of God, we are one in Christ.”

Rev Wray presented Bishop Given with a larger cross, too, to place on his desk in Kondoa. It was a gift from the clergy of Derry & Raphoe.

Clergy and parishioners travelled from far and wide across the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe to attend the Launch Service, including from Macosquin, Ballyshannon, Omagh, Fanad, Dunfanaghy, Inver, Faughanvale, Donegal, Moville, Limavady and Londonderry.

In his sermon, Dr Gaula drew inspiration from chapter 5 of Luke’s Gospel, which recounts how Jesus called his first disciples. He tells Simon – who had had a fruitless night fishing – to put out into deep water and let down their nets for a catch. The sceptical Simon did as Jesus suggested, and they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in a second boat to come and help them, and they hauled in so many fish that both boats began to sink.

“Friends,” Bishop Given said, “God is calling us to go even deeper, to experience his power, to experience his blessings.” Peter’s faith brought him many blessings, the Bishop said. He challenged the congregation to do three things to make the new relationship between Kondoa and Derry & Raphoe go even deeper.

“The first thing I encourage each one of us to consider on iour journey is our love for Jesus. We need to love Jesus so that our relationship can go even deeper, Our relationship can be a good example of the Anglican Communion. We can only make this possible if we love Jesus in our lives. Jesus will be the centrepiece of our relationship.

“Secondly, not only to love Jesus, I’m encouraging each one of us to live for Jesus. Live Jes`us. If we live Jesus, those who are surrounding us – our neighbours, our children, our grandchildren and all around us – when they see us living Jesus, their lives will be transformed and our relationship will go from strength to strength.

“And thirdly – in order to go even deeper and catch more fish by bringing more people to Jesus – please, friends, I am encouraging each one of you, we should not keep Jesus as our own property but rather we should give Jesus to others. And this is a call to mission. You need to give Jesus to your children. You need to give Jesus to your granchildren, to your neighbour. God is calling us to give others Jesus. It is only Jesus who can transform the lives of others.”

The second sermon was preached by Bishop Andrew who said he felt blessed to be inaugurating something that would be good for us and good for Kondoa, as well. The mission link is being facilitated by CMS Ireland, whose Mission Director, Jenny Smyth, was in the congregation.

“For too long,” Bishop Andrew said, “the church in the West – the bit that we’re part of – has looked to the church in other parts of the world and almost said something along the lines of, ‘Be like us’. And in so doing, what we’ve tried to do is transport our culture – our Christian culture – to a church that actually needs to transport some of its culture to us, because what we see in the church today is that in places like Kondoa – in places across the global south – [there’s] a church that’s growing, a church that’s vibrant, a church that’s filled with a heart to communicate the Gospel into its community and into its world. And what we need, Bishop Given, is some of that passion back in the church in the west, some of that heart.

“So, the days have long since gone when it was about ‘The West to the Rest’. What we need is the church that is growing and vibrant coming to us and sharing that love and goodness and grace, and thank you for already doing that.”

Bishop Andrew said he was filled with excitement about the new link. “I need to hear of a diocese that in 10 years has grown from 5,000 members to 25,000 members. I need to hear the stories of a diocese where people are content to meet under a tree to worship God, because in their worship of God they go out to share Jesus. I want to hear about a diocese that is empowering women in a mainly Muslim area – empowering women about their own value in the eyes of Jesus Christ. I want to hear the stories of a diocese that is not content to sit back and maintain what we have but to reach out and do great things for Jesus. That’s what I’ve been hearing about all week, and it’s been wonderful, and that’s what I hope will bless us.”

This evening’s service was led by the Dean of Raphoe, Very Rev Liz Fitzgerald, who was assisted by the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss, and members of the Cathedral Chapter, Rev Canon Mervyn Peoples and Canon Brian Russell who read from Scripture. Archdeacon Huss led the prayers. Music was provided by members of the Cathedral choir, accompanied by church organist Renee Goudie.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe has signed a partnership agreement with the Anglican Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania that could see individuals or groups from both dioceses visiting one another over the next five years to witness and share in work for the Kingdom and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.

The document was signed at the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod, on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, by Rt Andrew Forster, Rt Rev Dr Given Gaula (Bishop of Kondoa), and the Mission Director of CMS Ireland, Jenny Smyth.

Bishop Andrew described the partnership as a “companionship link”. In committing to it, the two dioceses have agreed to pray regularly for one another’s work; maintain regular contact through a named link person; and offer opportunities for individuals and groups to visit and join in with the life and work of the church in the other jurisdiction.

The people of Kondoa survive mainly through subsistence farming and are overwhelmingly Muslim. Despite this, Bishop Given has succeeded in growing the Church in the area through what he has described as “aggressive evangelising”, raising church membership there to more than 25,000.

Among his aspirations for the link with Derry & Raphoe are assistance with the training of new clergy for his diocese and the provision of safe, clean water supplies for local people.

In his Presidential Address to this year’s Synod, which had ‘partnership’ as its theme, Bishop Andrew spoke of his excitement about the new relationship. “Today, we are stepping out – reaching out – in faith,” he said, “as we inaugurate a new companionship link with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.” Bishop Andrew, who first met Bishop Given at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 2022, said it was a great personal pleasure to welcome his counterpart to our synod.

“I am tremendously excited by this joint initiative,” Bishop Forster told delegates. “My prayer for our partnership is that we will spur each other on in mission and evangelism, and that our new relationship will prove mutually beneficial.”

Bishop Andrew Presented Dr Gaula with a number of gifts, including a copy of the Book of Common Prayer and a plaque bearing the Diocesan crest.

Delegates at Diocesan Synod ’24 were given a glimpse of the challenges facing Church – through falling numbers and looming clerical retirements – when [on Wednesday 23rd October 2024] the two Archdeacons updated them on the Diocesan Council’s work on the Diocesan Review announced a year ago. The Archdeacon of Derry, Venerable Robert Miller, reminded Synod of last October’s decision to set up a commission to “prayerfully conduct a strategic review” of the diocese – a motion endorsed without objection. Progress in shaping the nature of the review had been slower than they would have wished, he said, although they were launching a resource at this year’s synod to equip the Diocese in prayer as a unified Diocese. “In prayer,” he said, “we will grasp the bigger picture which God has in mind for our dioceses and, furthermore, see the path to walk in order to make that picture a reality.”

The two Archdeacons were in a position to present an ‘initial report’ only, rather than the anticipated ‘interim report’, he said. “There is more work needed before we’re in a position to agree on a timetable for the presentation of the commission’s summary of the findings and recommendations but we would hope to bring this interim report to the Synod in 2025.”

In moving this review forward, Archdeacon Miller said, they were committed to listening to God and to one another. “A meeting of those who had expressed interest was held back in June 2024 and this proved to be a helpful opportunity to listen to what God has been laying on people’s hearts when praying as a part of the Diocesan Review. There are challenges to be faced – church attendance has dropped in the past 10 years – and we need to effectively plan for church leadership and ministry in the future…In the Church of Ireland we anticipate 170 retirements in the Church of Ireland in the next 10 years.

“As Archdeacons, we’ve been at work with Bishop Andrew to consider how other dioceses have approached these challenges and what their model of diocesan review has been. This information is still being collated and considered, and will inform the model of review going forward.

“What is becoming clear,” he said, “is that there are a number of ways that we can effectively listen to a wide cross-section of our dioceses to construct an accurate picture of needs and of possibilities. Our Diocesan Review will define clear actions and issue from the picture of the dioceses that we form through our listening process, and these actions will both be cultural and structural in nature. And some of the areas that the Diocesan Review will be considering will be vocation, giving, presence, mission and resourcing.

“Already in this Diocesan Synod we have renewed the call to prayer and sought to resource fresh thinking in mission with the announcement that [a new] mission fund will be launched [in the New Year]. God is at work in His church and as we seek to draw close to Him in prayer, our prayer should be that we may nurture the gifts that He has already given to us. As we look towards the review, we look also to our own hearts and the call to odedience of Our Heavenly Father.”

The Archdeacon of Raphoe, Venerable David Huss, pointed out that he wasn’t one of the 170 clergy planning for retirement in the next 10 years “although, who knows?” Echoing and endorsing everything that Archdeacon Miller had said, Archdeacon Huss focused on a few specific areas of work in regard to the Review.

The resolution passed last year could be summarised as calling for four actions, he said – to resource, research, reflect and recommend. Referring to the new prayer resource launched at Synod, Archdeacon Huss said that prayer would underpin everything about the review. “It is not simply a managerial exercise but a spiritual enterprise, and it is as much to do with prayer as about practicalities.”

Regarding the process of research, Archdeacon Huss focused on the 2023 census across the Church of Ireland. It wasn’t perfect, he said, but it was the best census that we had had, and would provide helpful data. “They show an undoubted decline over the last 10 years. In terms of attendance, a decline of at least 25% on average across our Diocese in Sunday church attendance from 2013 to 2023.” Meetings with parishes and surveys may well be used, Archdeacon Huss suggested, to gather information about finances and demographic changes, and to get a sense of the spiritual temperature and the level of morale.

The final two parts of the Review’s remit – to reflect on the information and to make recommendations – would necessarily come later, following on from the research. “In one sense, I think, they are easier, in a strange way, because it seems to me that there are a reklatively small set of possible options for configuring our dicoeses and our ministries in order to keep them afloat as we punch through the oncoming wave of secularisation which is inevitably bearing down upon all of us. The difficult thing is making sure we know clearly where we are at present and what kind of ministry we want into the future. When we are clear on those we will be able to set a wise plan which will hopefully receive assent and be put into action.”

Bishop Andrew thanked the Archbishops for providing their upate on the progress of the review.

Bishop Andrew Forster has told delegates at the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod that he has no intention of closing any parish church in the Diocese. His assurance came in his Presidential Address to the 2024 Synod, on Wednesday 23rd October, during which he announced a new partnership – a five-year companion link – with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.

The Bishop said some people had been very honest with him, usually at the church door, in sharing their fear that the ongoing Diocesan Review, announced at last year’s Synod, might lead to the closure of their church buildings. But Bishop Andrew said he wanted to be “absolutely clear” on this: “I am not here to close any parish church.” He hoped his clarification would clear up any misunderstandings and allay any concerns that delegates had.

A new booklet, ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’, which includes prayers for the church and the community, was presented to delegates at this year’s Synod. Although its prayers had a broad scope, Bishop Andrew hoped they would prove helpful as parishioners prayed for the ongoing diocesan review. “Ultimately,” he said, “the review is about determining how our church can continue to flourish in the difficult times that we live in, with all the challenges they bring for faith communities – not just the Church of Ireland but right across the board.”

Bishop Andrew’s Presidential Address is reproduced in full below.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather today as the people of God and the family of God – coming together from Dunfanaghy to Maghera, from Ballykelly to Ballyshannon, Castlerock to Carrickfinn, Carrigart to Castledawson, Limavady to Laghey, Letterkenny to Londonderry, Balteagh to Buncrana, Moville to Omagh, Kilrea to Kilmacrennan, and from all points – and many parishes – in between. You’re all so welcome.

We come together because we love God and we love His church. I list all those names to show what a diverse diocese we are – covering a large area of the north-west of this island, coming from two distinct political jurisdictions – but worshipping one God. From city, towns, villages, seaside and countryside, we are a varied and diverse group of people; yet at each of our Diocesan Synods I always feel a wonderful sense of unity. We assemble not just as a gathering of people but as family, we gather as family, working together, in partnership, to build God’s kingdom. In a family everyone is important and valued and has their role to play, and I hope that in this family of God everyone will feel important and valued, and that they have their role to play.

Diocesan synods have been meeting in the Church of Ireland since shortly after disestablishment. I came across these remarks that were spoken at the first diocesan synod of the Diocese of Newcastle in Australia, which pre-dates our diocesan synods. It took place on Tuesday 15th August 1856. Having given thanks to God that the synod had been able to gather, Bishop William Tyrrell began his charge with these words: ‘I would desire to unite a fervent prayer, that our consultations may tend to render our beloved church more and more efficient in winning souls to Christ.’ These are hopes that I echo for our gathering today. There’s a lot of business that we have to transact today but, overall, our vision is to continue to be a diocese that radiates Christ and transforms community; that saves souls won for Christ.

I would like us to focus for a few minutes on the theme of partnership – in its various manifestations – and that will be the recurring theme of this address.

Philippians 1 v3-6 says: ‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’

Partnership in the Gospel is the key to Paul’s close relationship with this small church in Philippi, and partnership in the gospel is the key to our close relationships in this diocese, because the gospel is good news. Its message has the power to change people’s lives and transform communities. Never lose confidence in the power of the gospel. As Paul puts it in Romans chapter 1, ‘I’m not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’ And in a world where people seem to scurry up every blind alley in search of fulfilment and peace, don’t lose confidence in the Gospel, the good news, don’t lose confidence in its power. It has changed my life and it has changed yours. Our partnership is in the gospel.

Partnership in the gospel leads us on then to partnership in mission, because mission is the strategy that we use to share the good news. Mission can be both traditional and creative, local and global. There has always been a tension between maintenance and mission. The former requires us simply to maintain what we have, whereas mission involves the risk of reaching out.

The plain fact is that a solely ‘maintenance ministry’ approach in our parishes won’t cut it; it won’t maintain and protect what we have. Rather it embeds a mentality of decline. Mission is risky. It requires us to think beyond ourselves. Sometimes we’ll get that right and sometimes we won’t, but the truth is that the God whom we worship today, the God whom we’re here to serve today is a missionary God: he sends His Son; he sends His Spirit; he sent out the disciples. And now he sends us to continue their work.

How should we respond as a Diocese to God’s call? How should we respond to the great commission in Matthew’s Gospel, to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”?

Of course, we respond in a way that reflects the context in which we work; how we engage with that context and how we share Good News within that context.

Today, we are stepping out in faith as we inaugurate a new companionship link with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania. It is a great personal pleasure for me to welcome Bishop Given Gaula to our synod today. Bishop Given and I first met just before the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 2022, and we look forward to hearing from him later on in our proceedings. I am tremendously excited by this joint initiative, as the Diocese of Kondoa will inspire us to greater mission as I hope we will inspire the Diocese of Kondoa to greater mission. My prayer for our partnership is that we will spur each other on, and that our new relationship will prove mutually beneficial.

We will be celebrating this new relationship at a service in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe on Sunday evening, at 7pm, and it would be really encouraging if many of you were able to join us for what should be a most uplifting occasion.

In a short while, we will hear, also, from our good friend Rev Rob Jones, who is our National Director of Pioneering. Pioneering has mission at its heart, with the goal of reaching those with ‘little or no contact with church.’ I’m really pleased that our Pioneering Hub is now up and active and working. And also, in our proceedings today, you will hear from Archdeacon Miller about the launch of our own Diocesan Mission Fund beginning in January 2025. This fund will use some of our own resources to help parishes take advantage of missionary opportunities in their midst. So, we have that to look forward to.

So, partnership in the gospel and partnership in mission must have the foundation of partnership in prayer. The parable of the house built on the rock and the house built on sand has many different applications, but for me it always speaks of the priority of prayer in the life of the household of God. You may recall that during the pandemic we published a little book of prayers to help us through those dark days, ‘Hope in the Pandemic’. Today, as you may have already noticed, we are presenting a new booklet to you called ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future.’

Although these prayers have a broad scope, I hope they will prove helpful for each and every one of us as we pray for our Church and pray for those whom we want to reach out to; as we pray for our mission and as we pray for our ongoing diocesan review. Ultimately, the review is about determining how our church can continue to flourish in the difficult times that we live in, with all the challenges they bring for faith communities – not just the Church of Ireland but right across the board.

Later in this synod, our Archdeacons will report on the review. I have no desire to steal their thunder, but I would like to make a couple of points. The first is this: pray, pray and pray again that God will guide and lead us as we plan and review together. The second thing I want to say is perhaps a little more sensitive. Some people have been very honest with me, usually at the church door, in sharing their fear that the review may lead to the closure of their church building. I want to be absolutely clear on this: I am not here to close any parish church. Occasionally, vestries do come to me and say, ‘We can’t do this anymore’. Usually, in such instances, the problems are falling numbers, financial stress or major issues with a building. That leads us into a dialogue about what the best options are. We celebrate all that has happened, and all that has gone on before, the faithfulness of generations, and we look to the future. Sometimes creative outcomes are possible. St Columba’s Church in Glencolmcille is an example of this. There the church has been re-purposed with a lease that continues to facilitate occasional services in that building, so its history lives on into the future.

I hope this is a clarification that clears up any misunderstandings there may be, and allays any concerns you may have. To repeat: I am not here to close any parish churches. Trust me, and please – as we discern the best way forward for our diocese – pray, pray and pray again. Hopefully this little booklet will help you pray, it’ll help people in your parishes pray. The pandemic one surprisingly ended up going all over the world and maybe this one will, as well, and be a gift to the wider Church, as well.

So, we’ve thought about partnership in the Gospel, partnership in mission, partnership in prayer and I think there’s a very natural progression to partnership in nurturing and empowering a new generation. Passing the faith on to the next generation is surely one of the most important tasks of the Church. I always look forward to our synods, to hearing from Kirsty McCartney our Children’s Ministry Officer and Claire Hinchliffe our Youth Officer. We are blessed to have them. They bring creativity, energy, wisdom and passion to their roles and are a real asset to the diocese.

I would love it if every congregation was constantly thinking – not just every so often but constantly thinking – about how best to integrate the younger generation into the life of faith and the life of worship. There is some superb work going on across our diocese, yet we know the challenges are great – as are the challenges of growing up in today’s world. This is one of those moments when we all end up sounding like old-timers, isn’t it, when we think, ‘Goodness, I’m glad I’m not growing up now because there are so many challenges’? There’s great work going on and what difference would it make if all the time, all the time, we were constantly thinking about how best to integrate the younger generation into the life of faith?

I want to publicly acknowledge the work done in our schools, particularly those under Church of Ireland Patronage in County Donegal, which seek to live out our distinct ethos in the everyday education of the children we cherish. They have my profound gratitude and admiration.

That leads me on to Partnership in Transforming Communities. You have no idea how much I love to hear stories of churches engaging with their communities. I hear of support for food banks, winter coat giveaways, second-hand shops, men’s sheds, community concerts, festivals, cafes, winter drop-in’s, befriending services, support for refugees and help for the marginalised. Our partnership with the Mother’s Union in this diocese in advocating for the victims of domestic violence has, I believe, been groundbreaking. We follow Jesus not just for ourselves but to bring His love into a needy world. When we recall His example of meeting people at their point of need, it has to inspire us to do exactly the same thing.

I am delighted that Hilary McClay from Bishop’s Appeal is with us today. Hilary will be giving us a timely update about its incredibly valuable work, just days after the launch of its appeal for the Middle East.

Now, I could talk about many other partnerships that I see across our diocese, but time is ticking on. Partnerships make us strong and keep us close. And partnership is at the heart of the Gospel message. Let us commit ourselves to be partners in hope – Partnership in Hope. This is God’s church and Jesus says I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I don’t need to remind any of you of the challenges that we face. Each of us knows them only too well. We see them in our own personal lives and in our parishes. But God is always greater. Isn’t that an uplifting thought? God is always greater. He is greater than the challenges. He is greater than our fears. He is greater than our worries and concerns. God is always greater than anything we can imagine or conceive of, and it is in that truth that we step forward as partners in hope. Don’t let the challenges steal your hope. God is greater. He is with us, and he loves His church. He will build His church.

I want to thank all of you for the partnership in which we share. I am humbled to be surrounded today by men and women of God who give of themselves sacrificially to build their church. Thank you for what you do. I am grateful beyond words to the clergy and the laity of this diocese for the partnerships that we share. I especially want to thank those whom I perhaps work closest with in partnership, David and Robert, our Archdeacons. We take what we do very seriously, but I hope we don’t take ourselves too seriously. David and Robert are a gift to me and a treasure to the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.

I want to thank Joanne, my ever efficient and ever patient secretary who makes sure I’m in the right place at the right time. So, thank you, Joanne, for all your support and all your prayers. As a diocese we are indebted to Gavin Harkin who does so much to make a day like this happen and who – right throughout the year, in his own quiet, unflappable way – keeps us right, ably assisted, of course, by the Honorary Secretaries alongside me. Wasn’t it Wellington who said of his generals, ‘I don’t know what effect these men will have upon the enemy but, my goodness, they frighten me’? What a formidable bunch they are. I want to thank Paul our diocesan paparazzo – who once described himself to me as ‘God’s spin doctor’ – and who is always so immensely helpful in promoting the work of our parishes. I have already mentioned Kirsty and Claire, but I also want to mention Jocelyn for the invaluable safeguarding support that she offers and the team that she has built around us that I know has given us all much more confidence in being the safe Church that God calls us to be.

Now, on the back of your little prayer book which you have now you’ll see the prayer of the Eastern Church and I love – just over halfway down – ‘and those whom we have forgotten do thou O Lord remember’. Thank you, everyone, for all that you do. You are a blessing to me and a blessing to the Church of Jesus Christ in our beloved Diocese and in our beloved parishes.

So, let us move ahead now as we transact our business and may it be done in a spirit of partnership with God and partnership with each other.

Around 500 pupils from more than 30 schools crowded into Ramelton Presbyterian Church on Tuesday 24th September for the annual County Donegal Schools’ Service. The organisers of this year’s event – for schools under Church of Ireland or Presbyterian Church patronage – chose the exhortation ‘Make a Difference’ as its theme.

The huge congregation, comprising children, teachers and clergy, were welcomed by Rev Stephen Richmond of Donegal Presbyterian Church. The Moderator of the Derry and Donegal Presbytery, Rev Susan Moore, led the ‘Call to Worship’ and the three-part address was given by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster. The Moderator and the Bishop are the Protestant schools’ respective Presbyterian and Church of Ireland patrons.

The Bishop had some words of reassurance in his address for the schoolchildren. “The Kingdom of God tells us we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God, that God wants to be with us every single of day of our lives.”

Bishop Andrew’s address was based on the Parable of the Sower, which describes how different people reacted to God’s word. As he addressed the children, the bishop blew up a balloon to help convey the reading’s message about growth.

Bishop Andrew asked the congregation how they reacted to hearing God’s news. “Do you listen, but forget? Do you not listen at all? Or do we listen to what God says and say ‘Yes’ to it, and invite Jesus into our lives? The wonderful thing is – what the parable tells us – is that whenever the seed falls on good ground, it grows and grows and grows, and wonderful things happen.”

The Bishop had some words of reassurance for the schoolchildren. “The Kingdom of God tells us we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God, that God wants to be with us every single of day of our lives.”

The annual service is something of a logistical triumph as buses ferrying pupils from all four corners of the county arrive at the church within minutes of one another, delivering their young charges in time for the beginning of worship at 11 a.m.