News & Events - Parish News

February's Pastoral Letter from the Vicar

Being a Christian Community

Posted on Saturday 1 February 2025 at 9:00am

Fr Nicholas

Today in medicine there is so much specialisation that the body tends to be broken up into parts. Some doctors specialise in the heart, others in the brain, others in the eye, others in the ear, and so on. Specialisation is good but it can have a downside. Specialists may be concerned only with organs, not with human beings. They may know scarcely anything about the person whose eye or heart or hip they are treating.

The human body forms a unity even though it is composed of many very different members. Those members are very different from one another and have very different functions. Some undoubtedly are more important than others. Yet to be complete the body needs all of them, and the members need each other.

So it is with the Church. We though many form one body in Christ. By means of our baptism we have become members of the Body of Christ, the Church. Some might wish to go it alone, independent of the community. But there can be no such thing as an isolated Christian. Those who deliberately cut themselves off wound the community. We are part of one another and must not try to go it alone.

Community makes demands of us. For this reason, the temptation to go it alone, to seek salvation independent of others, is strong. But this cannot be. We need each other, just as the parts of the body need each other. And the Church needs all of us. We need to have a sense of belonging to one another and to Christ. We have to get involved even when we would rather just look after ourselves.

Belonging to a community like that at St Matthew’s has obvious benefits. Take reeds for an example. Individually they are weak and easily broken. But tie a bundle of them together, and they are virtually unbreakable. So it is with people. Great strength results from togetherness. People take courage from knowing each other, encouraging each other, and from standing together. Great things can be done when people work together.

The emphasis on community comes from Jesus himself, only he used a different image to describe it. He used the image of a vine and its branches: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ It is a simple but profound illustration of unity and interdependence. It’s obvious that the branches need the vine. But the vine also needs the branches, because it is the branches that produce the fruit.

This is how Jesus wanted it to be between him and his disciples. This is the way he wants it to be between him and us. He is the vine, we are the branches. Without a sense of belonging together, of caring for one another and being responsible for one another, one is not really a Christian.

The fruit which Jesus desires from us is primarily that of unity among ourselves. By this all will know that we belong to him – by the bond that exists between us and the care we show for one another.

Your sincere friend and parish priest,
Fr Nicholas

Cathedral in Crisis

Posted on Monday 27 January 2025 at 10:37am

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston
(Dean of Peterborough)

Dear Friends,

Safeguarding concerns have presented a big challenge for the Church of England nationally, but, nearer to home, the now well- publicised financial issues facing our Cathedral have helped to bring home the challenge we are all facing, whether as individuals or as parishes, to make ends meet or to fund properly the ministry and mission of our church. Jesus said, “the poor you have with you always” – and it can sometimes seem as if we are always poor! From a Cathedral perspective it’s disappointing to be facing yet another financial pinch point when we’ve done so much to improve our financial management, and been so creative in the delivery of a fantastic array of exhibitions, events and activities. But like every other business, we’ve all of us been facing the same issues; Covid, the cost of living crisis, the rising costs of fuel and employment – they’ve all continued to pile pressure on our balance sheets.

We have launched an emergency appeal here, and we pray that that may be fruitful. But “we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair” writes St Paul in 2 Corinthians, and Jesus again and again called us not to be afraid or anxious because “your heavenly Father knows you need all these things”. The real challenge for us all is not one of systems, or process, or finance or funding – but faith.

Whatever we face as individuals or as communities – and we need to be responsible in our stewardship and disciplined in our actions – but above all we need to renew our trust in the living God: “strive first for the kingdom of God... and all these things shall be given to you as well”. (Matthew 6.33)

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston
Dean of Peterborough

January's Pastoral Letter from the Vicar

They opened their treasures

Posted on Wednesday 1 January 2025 at 9:00am

Fr Nicholas

One of Aesop’s fables goes like this. A child was sitting by a wall when suddenly a toad emerged from a hole. The child quickly spread out her silk scarf in front of the toad, the kind which toads love to walk on. As soon as the toad saw the scarf, it went back into the hole and soon returned carrying a little gold crown which it laid on the scarf, and went back into the hole again.

The girl immediately picked up the crown and put it into her pocket. Before long the toad came out again, but when it did not see the crown on the scarf, it crept to the wall and from sorrow beat its little head against the wall until it finally collapsed and died. Had the girl let the crown lie where it was, the toad would surely have brought out more of its treasures from the cave.

The purpose of this little story is to show that everybody has a treasure to share. The question is: how to get them to share that treasure. A lot of patience is called for. The secret lies in getting them to share it voluntarily. There’s no point in forcing people to make sacrifices. If you take things from people, they are impoverished; but if you can get them to give them up, they are enriched. People are essentially good, but this goodness has to be awakened and called forth, if they are to enter the kingdom of love.

Here, Christmas comes to our aid. If God’s Son had come in wealth, he would have made us aware of our own poverty. Thus he would have evoked a feeling of envy in us, and done serious damage to our hearts. But he came in weakness, thereby making us aware of our own riches. His poverty evoked in us a feeling of compassion, thereby bringing our hearts to life. To look at the poverty of the infant King of the Universe causes us to open our hearts.

It was the poverty of Jesus that caused the Magi to open their treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and lay them before him. And instead of being impoverished, the Magi were enriched. It is through giving that we are enriched, because through giving we discover our own riches.

The lovely feast of the Epiphany, or the ‘Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles’, challenges us to open our hearts. To open one’s heart is to begin to live. Jesus no longer needs our gifts. But other people may. He wants us to share ourselves with one another. And we too will find ourselves enriched, if as a result of really knowing Jesus, we are able to open the treasures of our hearts and share them with others.

Your sincere friend and parish priest,
Fr Nicholas

My admission as a Reader

Ray Douglas, Reader in the Peterborough Diocese

Posted on Friday 20 December 2024 at 10:09am

Ray Douglas, Reader in the Peterborough Diocese.

As many of you know, I was admitted as a Reader by Bishop Ed Condry on Sunday 24 November at St Matthew’s. This followed on from my licencing as Lay Minister at Peterborough Cathedral in September 2023. I do not here want to rehearse all I said in a previous article I submitted then. What I want to do here is to reflect upon the service of admission, and to say something about where I see myself going on from here.

So, to the service itself. When I was at Lancaster University all those years ago, I never bothered with the actual Graduation ceremony. I just collected my 2:2 in Ancient and Modern History in the post, and carried on with my life, which consequently led on to a teaching diploma and a career in teaching. I had enjoyed my History degree course, but saw no particular value in dressing up in Lancaster University robes, going up on stage, shaking someone’s hand and walking off stage again. My view on my admission as a Reader could not have been more different.

For a start, I was obliged to go through with this public Licencing, whether I wanted to or not! Like getting married, I was actually required to show up and give my solemn assent to legal questions put to me. And others had to witness that assent, so that they could give their promises also. It was a two-way process, and one I found profoundly moving and overwhelming, but in a good way! Father Nicholas alluded to things I shared about this upcoming Reader admission at Diocesan conference, and how, unexpectedly, emotion almost got the better of me as I spoke. I said then, that getting to this point was perhaps the greatest thing I have ever accomplished in this life, bar my marriage to Elaine and the births of my two girls. This gaining of the ‘Blue Scarf’ which signifies my Readership, is up there with anything else I consider to have been of value in my life so far.

Then there was the address given by Bishop Ed to us, and to me. How did Bishop Ed know of my prayer interest in Israel and the Jewish people? Something that has been with me from the very beginning of my Christian journey right back in 1975, if not before, as a young Methodist up there at Windy Nook Chaple Gateshead. Whatever, his talk, and his gift of a small Olive wood cross from Israel, inscribed with the initials I.N.R.I, was incredibly special to me. These letters, which stand for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, was almost like a personal manifesto given to me. It was now my task to live for this Jesus, and to make him known. All of us have this duty, but I especially felt this duty placed on me at that point.

Then came the moment I received my Blue Scarf from Caroline Brawn on behalf of Lay ministries at Peterborough Diocese. Blue has always been my favourite colour, but to receive something akin to the mantle of Elijah and Elisha was profoundly meaningful to me.

So, I go on. How will all this now play out? I do not know. I hope to continue to serve the people at St Matthew’s in any way I can. But is there something else? Whatever, I continue to covet your prayers in the days that are to come, as I seek God’s continued guidance in my life.

I also thank all who have played a part in encouragement and prayer, as well as in more practical support. I am grateful to you all. As I am grateful to those, like Mary Wallis, who have spoken so kindly to me, when I became discouraged along the way, and who assured me of their support of me before the throne of God. Perhaps someone reading this might think of taking a similar path as I have. It is the most wonderful of journeys; I would encourage you to think on it.

So, I will finish at this point. May our Good Lord Bless you and keep you. Amen

Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Bishop's Statement

Posted on Monday 25 November 2024 at 12:32pm

Following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Debbie has made the following statement.

"The Makin Report makes for harrowing reading and leaves me with a feeling of deep sadness and shame for the way in which victims of such horrific abuse have been let down by our Church. I am deeply grateful to those who have been brave enough to speak up and to share their stories and wish to assure them of my prayers.

In resigning, the Archbishop of Canterbury is demonstrating his personal and institutional responsibility for the safeguarding failures and I admire him for doing so. I am thankful for his ministry and recognise the efforts he has made to ensure that the Church of England continues to develop its work in safeguarding practice. I am committed to continuing this work in the Diocese of Peterborough to ensure that the Church is as safe a place as it can be."

Following the publication independent review by Keith Makin into the Church of England's handling of allegations of serious abuse by the late John Smyth, the Archbishop of Canterbury said:

"Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.

When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.

It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.

I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.

The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.

In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.

I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve. I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us.

For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person."

If you have been affected by the Makin Review and would like confidential, independent, support, please contact the Safe Spaces helpline. If you would like to report a safeguarding concern, please email the Diocesan Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@peterborough-diocese.org.uk

Diocesan Safeguarding Officer : Victoria Kellett
Office : 01733 887040
Mobile : 07484 424378
Email : victoria.kellett@peterborough-diocese.org.uk

Live-streaming, GDPR and Your Consent

Posted on Monday 16 September 2024 at 11:30am

Online live-streaming of services

Some of St Matthew's services (most Sunday mornings and some special services) are live-streamed or recorded for those who cannot attend church in person. Under GDPR, the church must gain the consent of anyone whose image may be captured, as this constitutes collection of "personal data". This includes clergy, readers/intercessors, musicians and congregation.

Whilst every attempt is made not to capture the faces of members of the congregation, this may occasionally happen if people turn around or move around the church during the service. The exception is communion, when the congregation is not filmed. The side aisles and back of the nave are so far as possible film-free areas not covered by the camera. Anyone whose personal data is collected must give their consent. Consent forms are available in church and online . The full policy can be read on our parish website or on the noticeboards in church.

Please read Our Privacy Policy - Filming & Photography and if you are happy to, give your consent by downloading, printing, signing, and handing in the form to a church representative or the Parish Office on your next visit. The consent form can be found at the bottom of the page.

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