The Rector's  Advent Letter 2024 'I pray that the season will strengthen you and assure you of Christ's presence in your life and home.'

They say that you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone.  You can apply that old proverb in many ways.  I miss Woolworths!  Some miss steam trains (yes there is a group of us odd train-types in the parish).  I’m afraid things do have to change sometimes.  Even churches have to change, but I think we here in Haslemere Parish have a good approach to keeping both the old and the new joined together.  If that sounds theological then it is – I like the word renewal, which connects the two together.
 
The approach to Christmas brings a heavy reminder of tradition.  Doing things in a recognisable way is the order of the day.  That’s said, I do try to keep things fresh.  Each year I aim to make things authentic for the Christian faith and of good quality, or in a common phrase of mine – just the same, only better.
 
But let’s start with the poor old Church of England. 
 
By most people’s reckoning, 2024 will be noted as something of an annus horribilis for us Anglicans.  It pains me, in fact it really upsets me, to see the Church of England caught up in so much of it’s own mess.  There are those times when history all piles-up in one place, and this was one of them.  The media have not allowed us to be unaware if it.  As many have noted and written, it has seemed like two churches – the central organisation and the local parishes.  We here in Haslemere are well-focussed on the good things we can do, which I think we make an outstanding job of.  I’ve made it plain on too many occasions that we survive and thrive on how we build relationships and reputation in this parish.  When the wreckage of how past safeguarding cases came to light at the top of the Church of England, I was very concerned that our community would be judged by some remote evaluation of the kind that knows nothing about the goodness of all we are trying to bring here locally.
 
I will not for one moment belittle the seriousness of these matters, nor the dreadful experiences of those victims who were let down (some of whom I know personally).  Yet I feel that the work of our ministry in recent years, and the great plans we have for the future, tell a story of the Church of England in this place, of which we can be humble and proud.  What is quite clear to me is that how we do things here builds resilience, speaking of a deeper truth, and that is the surest foundation.  It says Church of England on the signboards outside our churches, but our parish and it’s good ministry shall be in our hands alone.
 
The Link Community Hub Project has made enormous strides this year.  What was an evolving concept twelve months ago has now become a firm reality.  In the early part of this year the team set out to gather-up the beliefs and views of local people, as to how they perceive our local needs.  Much listening was done and careful recording.  You might expect that a church would know it’s community, and to a good extent we always have.  Yet in such a grand listening exercise we learned so much not only about what those needs are, but how they are met (or not).  But it’s more than just data.  Engaging people also brings encouragement, good impressions and raises curiosity.  This is the sort of thing the church ought to be doing, right?  We want to be seen that way.  We were getting noticed.
 
All this listening formed into some heavy applications for grant funding, to the tune of £1.5 million pounds.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much detail goes into preparing such applications, but I’m so grateful to the team for the depth of work and time they put in.  Much prayer surrounded those submissions, and it was a joy to learn in the late spring that the first part of that was successful.  What then unfolded was a growing realisation that this is actually going to happen!  The confirmation of our grant from Your Fund Surrey for a cool £1m was a great day of celebration.  To add to the joy, we are thankful across the whole church for our own individual and family commitments, and those of our connected Trusts and charities – The Haslemere Fund, The Religious Education Fund, Haslemere Schools Charity, and the Friends of Haslemere the Parish.
 
In parallel to this funding work has been the design and detail of the building itself.  How many door handles?  What colour carpet tiles?  Just about everything has to be thought of and estimated and costed into some vast specifications.  As of now all this detailed work is going off to a list of prospective building contractors who will submit their tenders along with some indication of when they can begin the work.  One contractor will be selected and dates set.  The hope is that we can begin after Easter, with work lasting into the early months of 2026. 
 
Which brings me onto the first of several intentions for 2025.  On the site between St Bartholomew’s and The Link we can expect things to be somewhat different during the months of the build phase.  That could affect pathways and approaches, space in St Bartholomew’s, storage and how we host events.  The Parish Office and choir spaces will move into St Bartholomew’s, whilst we also make flexible space for hospitality.  Whilst we can plan ahead, we shall also need to roll with the changes as they happen.  It’s been a long time since we had to accommodate building work to this extent.  My expectation on all individuals and groups is that we shall bear these changes with patience, understand and mutual support.
 
The Friends of the Parish of Haslemere have had a strong year, with a very impressive list of Saturday concerts throughout this last twelve months.  The Friends are group of voluntary members who contribute financially and practically to the care of our churches.  What works so well with these events is that it gives the chance for many people to contribute and to invite others to join in.  The Friends is not just fundraising, it’s part of the mission of the church.  There are people who come regularly and may be engaged with further encouragement to join in with worship and other ministries.  Not least, the Friends are making a significant contribution to the Link Community Hub project.  Many of us will be looking forward to their programme for 2025.
 
Justin and I have encouraged our churches to be in the middle of the civic life of the town, and a strong part of fundraising for charities.  In recent years the patterns of charitable giving have changed from being an annual budget, towards events that church members wish to host.  This effect is much to be encouraged because gathering together has many more benefits, beyond the finances which are raised.  When we open our doors for events we are ‘seen’, and just as with the Friends events it gives us something to shout about and invite others to.  It’s all part of building up the church as an important part of the town.  I doubt we could have made such a strong case for the Link Community Hub funding without our outward facing attitude.  Let us be in no doubt, we the Church of England are a big player in Haslemere, and we shall continue to grow even more.
 
This year has seen the wonderful D-Day remembrance event at St Christopher's, a super RNLI fundraiser, our autumn Midhurst Macmillan Coffee Morning, Women of Worth and most recently the Christmas Market Stall and the Advent Sleepout Challenge.  Thousands of Pounds have been raised.  The Parish Quiz was a great gathering as it always is, plus our important responsibilities at a time of Remembrance in November.   
 
From January 2025 we shall be taking a new approach to supporting those charities for which as a church we have made a budgeted annual contribution.  The intention is to bring more visibility to these charities with a dedicated month of personal giving to each.  There is more to come on that, so please listen out as we begin the New Year.
 
In addition to being the Rector of Haslemere and Grayswood, you may also know that I have some important assignments in the Guildford Diocese.  As Area Dean of Godalming, I have responsibilities toward the well being of clergy across fourteen other parishes, which also extends to being a part of the process of recruiting new ministers when parishes fall vacant.  This year, that has been the case for Milford and Witley, and now the four churches which make up the Godalming Minster.  I also continue with a seat on the Bishop’s Council, where I am one of four elected clergy who represent parish life and needs towards the senior leadership.  Both of those roles bring considerable detail across just about everything!
 
At times I have not been able to put my full attention into the work of Haslemere Parish, which is regrettable but inevitable.  There is however, as they say, always a silver lining.  I do have the tendency sometimes to keep myself in areas of church life and ministry where others are getting on just fine without me!  Long may that continue, because it’s the way that others can step-up and take responsibility, receiving all my encouragement and thanks for doing so.  The whole range of leadership in the parish is in very good health.
 
Those with keen eyes might have spotted that my name has been added to the wooden board by the bell tower in St Bartholomew’s.  After 5 ½ years, finally time has come for me to be inscribed as a legacy for ever more. 
 
With a sense of humour, I call that roll-call of past clergy the ‘Dead Rector’s Board’.  I am at least still alive for now, which brings me to my last point. 
 
Every year we say goodbye to those who we have loved in our families, churches and community.  In 2024 we have shared many memories of those faithful, as we have every year and will do so again for 2025 and beyond.  This last year the PCC asked for a set of work to be done to help us all understand how the great benefits of financial legacies can be left to the parish.  Through a legacy there is a considerable benefit to all concerned, because as churches we dedicate such gifts towards keep our church fabric in good order, and developing as our ministry develops.  One of the reasons we can concentrate on such an outward looking focus for our parish ministry is that we do not carry the very deep distractions of problem buildings and income that so many of my clergy colleagues know all too well.  Sophie and I have reviewed our wills in recent months also.  It may be a while yet for me (hopefully), but in time I expect to leave more than an inscription.  I invite you to consider the same.
 
So, at the end of this year may I gather in the thankfulness we all have for the whole ministry effort of our churches in the parish.  To all who do so much, great and small, we stand with gratitude.  It’s just the same, only better.
 
Finally, to all the good people reading this simple message, may you know God’s love with you this Christmas.  I pray that the season will strengthen you and assure you of his presence in your life and home.  God bless.