Presiding Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Dominic Stockford.
Assistant Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Arthur Bentley Taylor
General Secretary
The Rev. Michael John Smithson
ORDINATION AT FARNHAM
I am glad to report that we had a very special time last Saturday at Farnham, the 6th of January. There was a good spirit in the meeting. As one person told me: “I came discouraged but I am returning home encouraged.” Six of our churches were represented. A very special ‘thank you’ to all who attended the service and especially to the congregation of Emmanuel, Farnham, who provided for us so well and fed us magnificently. I am indebted to the first-rate work that Michael John put into the preparation of the programme.
The service was conducted by Michael John Smithson who took Morning Prayer; David Page took the Litany; Dominic Stockford led the Intercessions and presented the Candidate for Ordination; Peter Ratcliff of the CofE Continuing read the OT reading; and Daniel Normington read the NT reading. Mr Joseph Busfield was asked to introduce himself and he quickly won the hearts of the people. I gave the address using as my text, Psalm 37 verse 4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
It was good to meet Mr Daniel Normington for the first time. I hope that you will all have opportunity to get to know him in the future. He is a young man and he has teaching gifts – just what we need in these days. He was appointed as Lay Reader at Emmanuel, Farnham.
Mr Joseph Busfield was raised to the Diaconate. Joe has been licensed as Bishop’s Commissary in North America. He has many contacts in the U.S.A. and in Canada. Please pray that he become a rallying point for Reformed Episcopalians who are dissatisfied with the REC’s drift into Anglo-Catholicism. It was great to meet his wife, Lois and his daughter Lauren who was present with her fiancé, Matthew, having got engaged during the previous week in London.
Undoubtedly the ministry of the Connexion has been strengthened by the addition of two gifted men. For that we thank our God. It should motivate us to continue to pray that the Lord raise up a man for St Paul’s, Fleetwood.
Rt. Rev. Arthur Bentley Taylor