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…
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)
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.
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.
The weather.
A group of angel statues with links to kings, queens, Sir Christopher Wren and Westminster Abbey are being celebrated by a Somerset church community, two centuries after they first arrived in Somerset.
The group of 17th centaury angel statues with links to kings, queens, Sir Christopher Wren and Westminster Abbey arrived in Somerset two centuries ago.
Members of Holy Trinity Hamp in Bridgwater welcome the BBC to their church for the forthcoming harvest edition of Songs of Praise.
The Chew Valley Nature Photography Festival brought photographers, conservationists and local residents together to celebrate the biodiversity of the area and reflect on the call to care for God’s creation.
Across the country and throughout our diocese farmers are struggling to deal with the effects of the intense heat, lack of rainfall and the outbreak of the disease, bluetongue.
The service in Porlock highlighted the story of community, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The arrival of the Bride at a recent wedding at Holy Cross, Mark caused a something of stir both locally and in the national and even international press.
Tony O'Mara, who has overcome his own 40-year addiction, has been nominated for the BBC award for his work supporting others in the place that helped him change his life.
On the first Sunday in August, Bishop Fiona joined the South Quantock Benefice Lammas service.
Each year, the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast brings MPs, Peers and church leaders together in the heart of Westminster to…