A new vicar for another St James

I am a trustee of a patronage society. Yer what?

Patrons have a say in the appointment of the vicar to a parish.

St James, Bermondsey has three patrons, one of whom is the Queen, but after the Crown the largest patron is the Church Pastoral Aid Society.

CPAS is  patron of over 500 parishes and I am one of twelve trustees scattered over the country.

Last night I represented CPAS at the institution of a new vicar at St James, West Streatham. It is the task of the patron to 'present' the candidate to the Bishop ('reverend father in God I present to you the Reverend X who has been chosen to be vicar of this parish').

This was a double honour because St James, West Streatham was our 'sending church' - the church we
belonged to as a young married couple (I was a teacher at a school in nearby Tooting), and from which we went to theological college in 1986 - and it was St James that continued to support us while we there (and beyond).

It is the church we have the fondest memories of, where we learnt so much, and where we made enduring friendships that we treasure to this day.

We wish them all God's richest blessing as they move on into the next phase of their life with their new and excellent vicar, Rob.