Today begins my post Christmass break and I look forward to spending quality time with my family. We are not going away but will arrange several days out- as we are yet to fully explore the locality since moving here three years ago. And top of the list of places yet to be visited is Canterbury. That I have never been illicited shock from one member of the congregation yesterday, ‘An Anglican priest and never been to Canterbury!’, they exclaimed. ‘Oh, but I have been to Rome!’, I replied! Yet regardless of where I view the heart and home of Christendom, Canterbury really is somewhere I should go.
The reason for this has little to do with Anglicanism and all to do with ++Thomas. For S. Thomas of Canterbury, or Thomas a Becket, as he is also known, is a Saint who has followed me throughout my priestly ministry. Firstly as Patron of the parish (pictured above) where I spent a very happy curacy in Brentwood. (See the website here) Secondly as one of the four martyrs who stare down at me from S. Stephen’s Chapel, here in S. Barnabas’ Church. Thus for fairly obvious reasons S. Thomas has become a Saint who is very close to my heart.
And so today we are off on pilgrimage, on none other than S. Thomas’ Feast day, to enter the Mother Cathedral of the Church of England for the very first time. On the steps where S. Thomas lost his head, I shall pause to pray for my previous parish. For they too have lost their head in recent time, following the retirement of my friend and training incumbant Father Bob White SSC! (who looks eerily similar to the depiction of S. Thomas above!)
Lord Jesus, watch over the parish of S. Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood, as they seek a new priest to serve them there. We pray that those who apply may be true to the faith of the Apostles, firm in their desire to stand up for the Gospel and rooted in the Sacraments of your church. That the parish may continue to move forward in hope, forward in love and forward in faith. We pray too for Fr. Matthew Bemand as he continues to watch over the parish during this time of interegnum Amen.
