Lambeth hosting: send in your photos!

Lambeth begins, but most of the 650 bishops and archbishops from around the Communion now meeting at Canterbury have already been here for a few days already, enjoying the hospitality of dioceses around the UK. I'm hoping to post as many pictures as possible of the British Church doing its Benedectine duty with such grace, so if you have some to send me, please don't hesitate. I'll be updating this blog as the photos come in. A contributor on Thinking Anglicans has already noticed one Kenyan bishop, who joins the Nigerian we wrote about in breaking the Global South boycott.  Enjoy the names, some of them are wonderful. I've loved writing this blog. Sometimes it is good to be an Anglican. This photo shows bishops and their spouses from Ghana and the USA outside Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where they were being hosted by the Portsmouth diocese.

Pictures below just in from Edinburgh, where episcope from Canada wait to board at Queesferry on their way to Lambeth. Names coming soon, or do supply them if you recognise these good folk. Thanks to Raspberry Rabbit for these.

These pictures are from Leicester, which held an event called The Lambeth Talk where 25 bishops came from many countries to listen to 60 young people from around the world. They talked about Faith, Life and Power, pledged to care more for the thoughts and wishes of YP in their dioceses and it DCO Liz Jepson tells me it was a 'great success'.

Just in from Salisbury: the Dean, June Osborne; Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Archbishop Daniel Deng of the Sudan, the Bishop of Sherborne, Tim Thornton, and the Bishop of Ramsbury, Stephen Conway, pictured below the new statue of Canon Ezra on the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral

Preb John Andrews of Bath and Wells kindly sent in these.

The first pic shows Bishop Albert Chama (Northern Zambia); Bishop Peter Price (Bath & Wells); Bishop Peter Maurice (Taunton); Bishop William Muchombo (Eastern Zambia), Bishop David Njovu (Lusaka, Zambia), Bishop Nerva Cot Auguilera (Western Cuba); Bishop Rob Nolan (Brisbane, Australia); Bishop Derek Kamukwamba (Central Zambia); Bishop Robert Mumbi (Luapula, Zambia), preparing to board a steam train in Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset for a trip to Butlin's in Minehead.

The second shows Bishop Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells, with one of his guests Bishop Nerva Cot Aquilera, Bishop of Western Cuba, 'finding a moment of perfect harmony amidst the discords of Church of England debate on women bishops,' says Andrews They are pictured with members of Youthful Spirit, a Gospel Choir from Churchill Community  School, North Somerset who sang at a garden party for visiting bishops in the Bishop's Palace, Wells.

The photo here came came in from Juliet Pain, a regular contributor to this blog. Mrs Irene Doull organised an open top bus tour for Newport in the Monmouth Diocese, where many bishops and their spouses  are being hosted. She hitched a ride too and took the pic on her mobile. She tells me: 'Here are Bishop Don Johnson, Bishop of West Tennessee, Bishop James Leftwich, Assistant Bishop of North Queensland, Australia' Bishop Filadelfo Oliviera Neto, Coadjutor elect of Rio de Janeiro, Bishop David Beetge, Bishop of The Highveld, Southern Africa (Monmouth diocese' link diocese) and our own Bishop Dominic Walker of Monmouth.

'The visiting bishops and their spouses visited the Roman remains and an archaelogical dig at Caerleon, Newport's Medieval Ship and Tredegar Country House and Park. Today, Tuesday 15th, some of them are visiting the National Assembly of Wales, the Senned. '

(Incidentally, Dominic is one of my favourite bishops, straight out of a Susan Howatch novel. I reckon he's the one to sort the CofE out, should RW decide to go early. He'll release it from its present difficulties.)

These two photos were sent in by the Rev Jonathan Evans, vicar of St John's Ilford in the Chelmsford diocese. The photos show Bishop Isingoma and his wife Mugisa of Boga in Congo, together with St John's MU members and Bishop Isingoma, Geoff Eze, Mugisa Isingoma and Jonathan Evens at Chelmsford Cathedral.

The one here is from evensong on Sunday at St Albans, featuring Bishop Richard Inwood of Bedford, Bishop Ulises Prendes of Cuba, Bishop Bruce Caldwell of Wyoming, Bishop Erroll Brooks of North East Caribbean and Aruba, Bishop Christopher Herbert of St Albans, Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina, Bishop Philip Wright of Belize, Bishop Kirk Smith of Arizona, Bishop Michael Bird of Niagara, Bishop Richard Hurford of Bathurst. They are being hosted by the parishes of Norton, Barton Le Clay, Pirton, Digswell, St Albans, Willian and Cardington.

 

Manchester is hosting bishops from Hawaii, Melbourne, Africa and Pakistan. In this picture, taken at the City's Royal Exchange, are Bishop Paul White and his wife Robyn, of Melbourne, Bishop Alexander Malik of Lahore, Bishop Johannes Angela and his wife Elizabeth of Bondo, Kenya, Bishop Daniel Sadiq and his wife Naseen of Karachi, Pakistan, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick and his wife Beatrice of Hawaii and Archbishop Philip Frier and his wife Joy of Melbourne.

  I took this myself this morning at Salisbury, where the Dean, June Osborne, is hosting TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Australia's first woman bishop, Kay Goldsworthy, of Perth. Salisbury is also hosting the Sudanese bishops. Some Sudanese bishops were at Gafcon which might have made for interesting conversation over dinner in the Close at Salisbury, although I was given to understand today that it didn't once come up. The reality of what it can mean to be a woman in leadership in the Church of England hit home in a new way. Given that Lambeth is about the leadership of the Anglican Communion, surely some way could have been found to invite women of June Osborne's calibre to sit around the table at Canterbury, especially with those 230 vacant seats.

Lichfield has many bishops also. Here, the Bishop of Matlosane, the Right Rev Steve Diseko, lights a candle during a service at the cathedral at which he renewed his partnership with diocese.

Also in Lichfield, local bishops chat outside the cathedral with the bishops of West Missouri in the US and Waikato in New Zealand.

The Bishop of Bradford David James showers confirmation candidates with water 'as a reminder of their baptism.' Present at the open air service were bishops from the US, Sudan and Pakistan who are being hosted in the diocese.

In St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Bishop Tom Brown of Wellington, Bishop Jackton of Lweru and Josephine Lugumira found themselves at a Mothers’ Union garden party.

In the same diocese, Bishop Alfred Karibongi of Hanuato’o met pupils from Cavendish church primary.

This amazing picture shows all the bishops and their diocesan banners visiting St Edmundsbury. Hoping to have a namecheck up soon. I'ld love to know how Nick Clarke took this photo.

Times photographer Michael Crabtree took this one of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire while I was interviewing him for the story in today's paper. Bishop Gene is being hosted by Rev Giles Fraser, Vicar of St Mary's Putney.

Comments

[John]

The bishops in purple and in long robes make colourful photos, but there is something fundamentally misleading about a Lambeth Conference which only represents something like 1/4 of the world's Anglicans.

How can it speak for them, when hundreds of the bishops attending come from the UK (about 800,000 in church on Sundays) and from the USA (less than 1m)? Would it not have been better to postpone it or even cancel it, until the split in the Communion has been addressed, rather than concealed under the carpet?

[Sue Huyton]

We have had a wonderful time with the Bishops visiting St Asaph Diocese. They came from Brazil, South India, Kansas (USA), Tanzania, Riverina (Australia) and Kenya. The opportunity to share in the Lambeth Conference like this has touched our hearts. And shown us how small our problems are in the vast run of things.

[Recusant]

This seems more like an international Rotary Club convention than a real church. How many bishops do they actually need for the numbers of their parishioners?

[riazat]

@John - I think these pictures are lovely and a welcome ray of sunshine amid all the doom and gloom and talk of schism-but-not-schism. My favourite is the one with the bishop of Bradford chucking water at folks

[Dr. Mike Homfray]

Four large provinces are missing, but that is their choice. They will soon be on their way in any case as they seem to think that to be Anglican has nothing to do with Canterbury or the church of England, which is simply inaccurate.

[David Palmer]

And what if God does not look on the purple and long robes, but upon the heart?

[MJ]

Ruth, also note another Kenyan boycott breaker - +Beneah Okumu of Mumias is currently a guest in St Asaph diocese, as listed on their pre-Lambeth Hospitality Programme:

http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/asaph/life/Lambeth programme2.doc

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

I also love Susan Howatch novels. I first started reading them in Haifa, as they reminded me of the English church, as compared to the various Arab churches in Haifa and Jerusalem.

Which character(s) in her novels does Bishop Dominic represent for you and why?

(rg writes: not sure it would be wise to be specific Irene! He reflects the best aspects of a number of her leading clerics, esp the ones with the strongest interest in metaphysical spirituality.)

[Jenny]

I had lunch on Sunday with Bishop Dixie from the Phillipines, and his wife Juliette, who is also ordained. A wonderful, lovely, grace-filled and humble couple. Those who still insist on leaving negative, petty comments... please desist for at least this post?! Let's instead celebrate the breadth and diversity of the Body of Christ, as reflected in those visiting us this month.

[Jonathan Evens]

St John's Seven Kings hosted Bishop Isingoma and his wife Mugisa prior to the Lambeth Conference. Isingoma is Bishop of Boga, a diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo. St John's has supported mission in this Diocese since their CMS Mission Partner Judy Acheson began her ministry in the Democratic Reublic of Congo by working with children and young people in the Diocese. Over the years, in addition to supporting Judy's ministry, St John's has contributed to the building of a church, bought a cow that enabled a youth worker to marry his fiancee, and funded staff in the Diocese' youth department.

To celebrate the visit of the Bishop and his wife, we held an International Evening which featured guests in national dress, food from around the world, and performers from many different countries. We enjoyed songs in English, French, Swahili and Tamil, morris dancing, a quiz on British National Parks, and a presentation on Guiana, among other items. The Crusader and Starlight signing groups performed tamil and caribbean gospel songs. Our new curate Geoff Eze was welcomed with the gift of a prayer book and a card signed by the congregation. Bishop Isingoma gave a blessing and Mugisa performed a song.

Bishop Isingoma preached to a full Sunday morning service at St John's and was encouraged to be told of a gift in memory of Dr Sugie Davie which will enable motorbikes to be bought for his Archdeacons. These will aid them in visiting parishes across this large Diocese. The Bishop also met Rachel Page, a teenager from St John's who will be visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo this summer as part of a CMS Encounter. During her Encounter, Rachel will be involved in a brick making project and a children's Bible Club.

On their final day, the Bishop, his wife and the St John's staff team enjoyed a guided tour of Chelmsford Cathedral ably led by the Cathedral's Education Officer, Bobby Harrington, before being introduced to the Diocesan Office by Canon Roger Matthews, Director of Mission and Ministry. In the evening Mugisa spoke to a well attended meeting of the Mothers' Union at St John's about her role as Diocesan MU President and the varied and effective work of the Mothers' Union in Boga. In her talk she highlighted their work with whole families and with couples, work to empower women and provide employment, work to bring reconciliation following the war years, and work with those coping with traumatic experience such as HIV/Aids or the experience of having been raped during the war. Donations made at this meeting will enable the Boga Mothers' Union to purchase 3-4 sewing machines to provide training/work opportunities to young women.

St John the Evangelist Seven Kings,
Web: http://www.stjohns7kings.org.uk/
Blog: http://joninbetween.blogspot.com/

[Fr. Van Windsor]

On the whole, I would think Lambeth will be a great deal more fun given the ones who have chosen not to attend.

[magistra]

I don't have a picture, but Bishop Erroll Brooks of North East Caribbean and Aruba, before going off to St Albans, took part in a service in Hitchin, Herts at 'Rhythms of the World' on Sunday morning. RotW is a large world music festival, which this year included a reconstruction of St Mary's, Hitchin in tent form, complete with relocated pews and the service was in that.

[Malcolm+]

The blond bishop in the photo from Leister is Greg Kerr-Wilson, Bishop of Qu'Appelle (Canada). I believe it is also Greg second from the right in the picture from Lichfield.

[Neil Pugmire]

The 11 bishops from Ghana and the USA pictured above at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight were being hosted by the Portsmouth diocese.

The Rt Rev Daniel Sarfo, Bishop of Kumasi in Ghana said: "In my 10 years of being a bishop, I have never known such hospitality as this".

Their timetable for the five days included:
July 12: big event in the cathedral with the Bishop of Portsmouth, including a display of mission activity from around the diocese, a Eucharist for all-comers, and bishops joining in baptism and confirmation service.
July 13: bishops participated in Sunday worship in the churches their hosts belong to.
July 14: tour of the Isle of Wight, including Osborne House.
July 15: tour of Portsmouth, including lunch on HMS Warrior, the chance to see an exhibition on slavery at the Royal Naval Museum, visit to HMS Victory and trip to the top of the Spinnaker Tower.