On Monday 13th July the Parish of Stony Stratford with Calverton joyfully witnessed the Collation, Induction and Installation of our new Rector, the Revd Dr David Jarratt (Fr David) in St Mary & St Giles church by the Bishop of Buckingham and the Archdeacon of Buckingham.
It was a service attended by many members of the congregations of All Saints and St Mary & St Giles, visiting priests from the Milton Keynes Deanery and beyond, some of Fr David’s family and friends and several local representatives including some other church denominations, Stony Stratford Town Council and St Mary & St Giles CE Primary school.
Welcome to the parish Fr David, we are delighted you are with us now.
Bishop Dave Bull of Buckingham and Fr David Jarratt outside SMSG church
The Parish of Stony Stratford with Calverton continues to seek a new Rector.
We are praying for a priest who has the vision, energy, enthusiasm and ability to inspire, equip and work with us as our community expands.
Parish Rector Vacancy timetable
The advertisement for our new Rector is in the Church Times and on the Church of England Pathways website listing vacancies from Friday 9th January and will run for four weeks, with a closing date of Thursday 5th February —see https://jobs.churchtimes.co.uk/jobs/Full-time-Rector–in-London-and-Home-Counties-jn14393and https://www.cofepathways.org/members/modules/job/detail.php?record=9622. If there are applications the panel will shortlist applications soon after the closing date. If the panel shortlists any candidates, interviewing would take place on Thursday 26th February, with Evening prayer and candidate(s) sermons on Wednesday 25th February. The PCC have refreshed the advertisement and updated the Parish Profile, printed copies of these will be available in both churches. Please pray for priests to apply and for the interview panel including our two parish representatives, David and Anna, as they prepare to shortlist and interview candidates, and prayerfully discern.
The interview panel will consist of Bishop Dave Bull, plus David Riding and Anna Page as Parish Representatives, Paul Oxley the MK Area Dean, David Thom Lay Chair MK Deanery, and Paul Hirons representing the Oxford Diocese Patronage Board. One or both of the churchwardens from All Saints will attend the interviews as observers.
The Parish of Stony Stratford and Calverton is seeking to appoint a new Director of Music to support the Parish with two weekly Sunday morning services, a weekly choir practice and other festivals, with the opportunity to also play for weddings and funerals and contribute to our diverse musical community.
Enquiries or an informal visit to play the organ ahead of applications are welcome.
Please direct enquiries and applications to:
Marilyn Bazeley (SMSG churchwarden) mari1948@btinternet.com
and
Matthew Lucas (PCC member) matthew.lmgc@outlook.com
The annual Parish Duck race took place on 28 March 2015 from the weir by the Millfield. This event was founded in 1992 by Pauline Cavell-Northam, wife of Fr Cavell-Northam, the Vicar of Stony Stratford and Rector of Calverton from 1968-1997. She bought 100 plastic ducks (for £50) and a wetsuit. Each duck was sponsored for a £1 and thrown into the river on the Duck race day. The first past the finishing line was the winner. It has become a much loved Parish tradition, now run by Lesley Salter. Most of the original ducks plus another 50 are still in the collection. Some swam away over the years and one escaped duck was the subject of a rescue and ransom saga some weeks after that year’s duck race. Sometimes the duck race has been weather bound so the draw has happened from the black sack of ducks, however yesterday the rain held off long enough for the children and adults alike to have lots of fun fishing ducks out of the water once the first, second and third ducks had been declared. Photos of the 2015 Duck Race can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78058413@N06/sets/72157651624451572/
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t so kind this morning when we were due to process along the High Street in Stony Stratford singing ‘All Glory Laud and Honor’ at the start of our Palm Sunday service. So the procession happened within the church instead as the rain fell outside, followed by the solemn reading of the Passion of our Lord from the Palm Sunday events until his Crucifixion.
“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt (John 12:13-15)!”
