As I was preparing for my final Sunday I was remembering the text chosen by my first training incumbent in Hove when he left at the end of my first year. The text was from Psalm 16 – ‘The lot has fallen unto me in a fair ground.’ I like that text because so much depends on how you say it. Does it refer to a fair ground – a beautiful and attractive place – or a fairground – a place of noise, constant distraction, and numerous appeals for your attention?
The text is even more appropriate to Hampstead than to Hove because this place is both a fair ground and a fairground. There is so much in this church to appeal to anyone with a capacity for enjoyment – so many interesting things you all do and have done – so many delightful children – so many questioning young people – so much generosity and willingness to help – so much music, drama and art – so many ideas and more than a few people prepared to put in the hard work to make some of the ideas come to fruition.
But it is also a place where any priest is likely to find it hard going – giving attention to all the just demands on his time – trying to avoid doing only the things he enjoys doing – trying to formulate some vision for the future as well as a strategy to bring it about – trying to encourage and support as many people as possible to share in the task.
At a time like this I have found it hard to give equal attention to the numerous expressions of gratitude you have been making and my own sense of the things left undone or not done well enough. I also find all this appreciation and affection emotionally hard to take so forgive me if I have seemed a little reserved in my response.
You have all been remarkably, extraordinarily, generous and I thank you with all my heart – I shall treasure the half hunter watch and try to make the best of the time it tells me. I shall, I hope, over the years ahead spend your wonderful cheque as wisely and enjoyably as I can. Thank you too to the Junior Church for their lovely cards and splendid gifts and wise choice of wine!
I was asked on Friday what was my favourite memory of Hampstead and I couldn’t really reply because I have too many for which I shall always be grateful. They have helped me to grow more deeply into my priesthood and to find that whatever has been achieved over the past 15 years has been done because of all the talented and expert people with whom I have been able to collaborate.
Thank you to you all for your generosity and good wishes, and love and prayers; thank you for the wonderful book of messages so beautifully prepared by Maggie; and thank you also to all those who made the parties at lunch time and in the evening of my last day so enjoyable.
And the other thing I want to say here – is that caring for the life of this parish can be all consuming, however many people are involved in the task. I firmly believe that with Diana and Jan, Angela and Jon you are in very good hands but to do all that they are capable of doing they will need your help and support, sensitive consideration, prayer and hospitality – they will all need a drink from time to time. Interregnums are supposed to be good for the life of the church because people begin to discover skills they didn’t think they had and because help arises from unexpected places. I’m sure that will be true for you all and my prayers will be with you and I shall read the website regularly so please make sure it’s full of news.
The Vicar writes
Stephen Tucker