On Ash Wednesday, Bishop Michael and Bishop Ruth welcomed Fr Bernard Phiri and Fr Emmanuel Ngoma, two priests from the Diocese of Eastern Zambia. Bernard and Emmanuel were in the UK attending the Conference for Seminarians and Clergy in the Early Years of their Ordained Ministry in Canterbury. They then travelled to Bath and Wells where they were hosted by their respective link parishes with a full programme of parish events and school visits.
The two also spent time at the Bishop’s Palace where they met Bishop Michael and Bishop Ruth. Bishop Michael in particular had a lot to discuss with the visitors as he had previously worked extensively on health projects in the part of Zambia. After the meeting, the group attended the Ash Wednesday service in the Bishop’s Chapel, presided by Bishop Michael.
Fr Emmanuel Ngoma, is from Mawanda which is linked with St Mary's, Bridgwater. Whilst he was visiting Bridgwater Fr Emmanuel went with the St Mary’s team to visit local schools and shared with them his experiences. Fr Bernard Phiri from Chipata South, which is linked with Keynsham parish.
Father Bernard spoke to Rachel Shaw from St John's, Keynsham about his experience in the UK. (Interview first published in Contact - the magazine for the Parish of Keynsham)
What made an immediate impact when he arrived?
The style of buildings, so many big buildings. The roads - so big and mechanised with so many signs. How people work - always busy, always scurrying around not taking much notice of each other.
What are the main differences between Keynsham and Chipata?
In Chipata South, Father Benard is responsible for six churches scattered over a large area, much of it rural - he spends a lot of time travelling. The congregation is usually numbered in the hundreds, music and dance are an important part of the service. Here our four churches are much closer but the variety of worship interested him. At St. Francis’ he attended a family service where to his surprise the priest wore ordinary clothes - in Zambia the priest always wears his vestments. At St. Michael’s he experienced a much more formal style in a tiny church. The small congregations and lack of children and young people in church is a marked contrast to Zambia. Although he has not yet been here long, it has helped to reinforce his view that different people may like different worship styles, but we are all part of the same family pursuing the same purposes.
What does he not like?
The weather.
