As one significant chapter in the life of Hampstead Parish Church comes to an end with the retirement of Fr Stephen and another begins, and as we now focus on the future of our church and in particular its leadership through the appointment of our next Vicar, we wanted to share some thoughts on what the next few months of the interregnum will hold.
Before doing so, we firstly want to say a heartfelt thank you to each of you for the part you have played in saying a fitting farewell to Fr Stephen. When we met with the Bishop of Edmonton last autumn he stressed the importance of Fr Stephen ‘leaving well’. In that respect, you have done Hampstead Parish Church proud – from the numerous events to celebrate his ministry to the tremendous response to the recent Special Collection. Thank you.
If you haven’t yet seen the wonderful display of photos in church which captures some of the warmth of Fr Stephen’s final Sunday with us, do please take a look.
The response to the Special Collection was even better than we could have hoped for and raised more than £17,500 from some 175 individual donations. As was evident from what he wrote in his final letter for the Parish Magazine, Fr Stephen was clearly very touched by what he considered to be the extraordinary generosity of church members. This gratifying outcome reflects the great warmth and esteem in which he was understandably held by so many for all that he brought us during his 15 years of dedicated ministry in Hampstead.
As many of you will be aware, a proportion of the funds has been used to purchase a half hunter gold pocket watch – a gift of his own choosing – which was presented to Fr Stephen at his Retirement Lunch on 1 May. The balance of the funds will enable him to continue to experience and enjoy his interests over the years ahead during his well-earned retirement in Salisbury.
The formal process of planning for the appointment of our next Vicar is now underway, and the PCC is currently putting the finishing touches to the draft Parish Profile (the prospectus that potential candidates for the role of Vicar will receive). Once finalised, the profile will then be considered at what is called a S12 meeting, when the PCC is joined by the Bishop, the Archdeacon, the Area Dean, and representatives of the Diocesan Board of Patronage to discuss the expectations and requirements of the parish and how these fit with the needs of the Diocese and the wider interests of the Church. That meeting is scheduled for 29 June.
If all goes according to plan, the position will be advertised before the summer holiday break and interviews will be held in the early autumn. The PCC has appointed us to act as its two lay representatives on the Selection Panel. Provisionally, we are hopeful that the new incumbent will be able to take up their position early in the New Year (allowing for a typical three months’ notice period). However, while timing is important, the critical factor is to make the right appointment for Hampstead Parish Church. We will keep you informed periodically of progress.
This does mean that we must be prepared for an interregnum of at least 8 months, and possibly longer. Many of the interim plans are already in place, in particular the arrangements for worship. These will continue as usual with the exception of Evening Prayer on Saturdays which has been suspended for the period of the interregnum. We are extremely fortunate in having Diana Young and Jan Rushton to lead our worship, supported by Handley Stevens and Andrew Penny. Our intention is for our varied and full range of activities to continue as before and we are grateful to our Volunteers and Staff team who make this possible. The success of the Spring Fair demonstrates the value and importance of a strong team effort.
While in one sense the interregnum represents a challenge, in another it provides an opportunity to come together even more strongly as a church community and ensure that we continue to work effectively in delivering our mission. The PCC, the Standing Committee, the Working Parties, and other Volunteer groups, supported by the Staff team, will be striving to that end. Our task will be made that much easier by your collective help and encouragement.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
The Churchwardens write
Angela Gardner and Jon Siddall