Dear Friends

As we come into September we come to a new Methodist Year. Changes to the stations for ministers have been agreed by the Methodist Conference in June and if Methodist ministers, both presbyters and deacons are moving, they move in July or August so as to take up a new post, or, as Tricia has done, sit down from the active work and become supernumerary ministers. For everyone who is moving there is a new challenge, with the contents of manses boxed up and ready to move which find new homes in new manses. Moving is not an easy process but it is something that many people, including Methodist Ministers, do periodically as we have found in this circuit this year.

We welcome Rev Crawford Logan to the life of the circuit in September. Crawford will have started his ministry here on the 1st September, three days before his welcome service which will take place at 4.00 pm on Sunday the 4th September at St Leonards-on-Sea Methodist Church. This will be an opportunity for us to meet Crawford and to pray for him and with him as he begins his ministry here.

Crawford, his furniture and his two dogs have come from Clacton-on-Sea in the Tendring Circuit in Essex. I know part of the circuit well as I was Superintendent Minister of the Manningtree and Harwich Circuit for 5 years, being in the circuit for ten years back in the 1990’s. Manningtree and Harwich Circuit joined with Clacton circuit to form a larger circuit which now takes in most of the communities around Dovercourt Bay, with coastal towns and villages which have all the issues that coastal towns have, but just like in Bexhill, there is a deep sense of community which saw the communities around Harwich through many challenging times.

As part of his ministry Crawford will have pastoral charge of Christchurch. He will also be minister for Ninfield, Little Common and St Leonards-on-Sea, so he will share his ministry in the place of largest population in the circuit. He will also undertake one session a week at Battle working on the new housing estate which is being built next door to the Emmanuel Centre. It does mean that I will swap Christchurch to have pastoral responsibility for Calvert and St Helens. I won’t be at Christchurch so often but will still come over to lead worship and hopefully meet you at other events and continue to join with the Christchurch singers!

I would like to thank you all for your help and support over the past two years that I have been part of the Christchurch as your Minister. The first year during lockdown meant that things were done very differently but over the past year I have been finding out what we as a church usually do, which shows the depth of fellowship, outreach and worship within the Church. I know that you will support Crawford in his ministry, and he in yours, as you continue to listen to God, share time together and explore mission and ministry together.

May God’s blessing and peace be with you all as you embark on a new chapter in the life of the Church at Christchurch from this September.

May God’s blessing and peace be with us all

Philip
Rev Philip Wagstaff