Dear Friends
The interregnum feels as if it is drawing to a close as our new vicar, Rob and his wife Jean, make their plans to move into the vicarage on the 26th October. Rob’s arrival will mark a new phase in the life of St Luke’s and we will enjoy stability after a period of change.
Since Paul’s retirement at the end of December last year we have been blessed to have our services led by a number of inspiring local retired vicars; Howard Eales, Martin Oram, Graham Joyce, Sue Wilkins, Alan Overend, Rick Gates, also our Archdeacon, Ian Bishop and Steve Clapham, our Rural Dean, who have all given us much to think about. They all have unique and individual styles. In their own ways, each have brought different messages to challenge and inspire us, especially so with Rick and his very personable style of preaching.
At the start of the interregnum I was unsure how I would react to not knowing the vicar at each service, but as the year progressed we had such a variety of sermons, this became refreshing and inspiring. I feel, as a church we have embraced the change and we have grown in faith.
The interregnum has been a time of change, but a time of finding new strengths and ways of working together. We would like to say a big thank you to the standing committee, the PCC, Sidesmen and all church officers for keeping our church going at full strength during the interregnum. We have been blessed by our organists, under the direction of Wendy, who have continued to provide each service with wonderful music. Our thanks also to our congregation who have continued to share in the joy of God’s love here in Holmes Chapel.
Work will shortly start to build a new vicarage in front and to the left of the existing one. Rob and Jean will move into the old vicarage whilst the new house is being built and this will take around 12 months. It will be good to see the vicarage occupied again and return to being at the heart of our community.
We hope that you feel that the interregnum has been a positive force at St. Luke’s. We now look forward to Rob’s arrival and to him leading us in a new direction to develop our faith and to reach out to the wider community of Holmes Chapel.
Alastair and Jayne
(on behalf of the Wardens team)