P.S. - Friday, 09 Nov-07

As part of my continuing journeying I have approached a Religious Community down in England with a view of becoming a Companion to the Community. This term denotes someone who remains in their own community and carries on with their own life yet adheres to the Community Rule. This was done after much thought and prayer. The Assistant Priest at my Scottish Episcopal Church is most supportive to my idea, which is a great help. There are plenty of such Communities here in Glasgow, but they are RC and RCs will not allow Christians to receive Holy Communion who are not RC. Although I am a catholic, I am an Episcopal catholic, not a Roman one. Silly distinction in this day and age, but there you are. I had discussed it also with a Roman Catholic priest friend and he was most supportive. The Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield in Yorkshire, north England, is an Anglican monastic Community and Anglican Theological College.

Also spoke to John Woodhouse via Skype as he had been trying to contact me. He had a bad fall in Battersea Park the other day, damaging his upper lip and a tooth. He looks a bit battle worn and it has certainly shaken him up. It was good to talk to him, and Valerie popped over my shoulder to be introduced to him also. It'll be good to keep contact.

Friday, 09 Nov-07

Had an extra-ordinary meeting of the Vestry the other evening, chaired by the Diocesan Dean, the Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan, to air people's worries and to peruse the vacancy procedure for the appointment of a new Rector. Bishop Idris and the Dean seem keen to appoint a full-time Rector with us. Gregor intimated that 'we should not assume we need to advertise', which of course, led to all sorts of speculations as to whom they had in mind. Either way I feel we should advertise as we need to be seen to be above board. I shall suggest we just advertise in 'Inspires' the Provincial magazine as we need a priest who is familiar with the Scottish Church's practices.
Advertising in England and Ireland will attract a lot of evangelical priests, who would not really fit in with our needs as we are more catholic. The two evangelical churches in Scotland, namely St Silas, Glasgow, and St Thomas, Corstorphine are evangelical as they were both built to serve English Hanovarian troops sent to Scotland to quell the rebellious Scots who supported Bonnie Prince Charlie ( who was RC ) and to impose English Penal Laws on Scottish Episcopalians who refused to say prayers for the English monarchy! St Silas served the soldiers garrisoned in nearby Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. St Silas to this day, uses the English Liturgy and refuses to call itself Scottish Episcopal Church. At one time, in the '70's it said it only had allegiance to the Bishop of Carlisle, down south in England! Bishop Derek Rawcliffe, then Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, regulated ther anomaly so that they came under his jurisdiction. However, they are still ambivalent about us Scots, and we of them, I suppose.
Anyway we outlined a rough timetable to produce a church profile and job description but it will not be done this side of the end of February as we have Advent and Christmas coming quickly and the Vestry need to get over the congregational AGM on the 20th November and 'Kirk' the new Vestry so work cannot really start until December this year.

Today I met Alec, our Fabric Convener / People's Warden at the Rectory to begin an inventory. Unfortunately this was not possible as Paul, our Rector seemed unclear about what was staying and what was leaving for store etc, and when he would vacate the premises. We are in no rush either but his tenancy cannot go on indefinitely. He has his barn in the Isle of Arran but it is not completely watertight so the Vestry agreed to allow some belongings to remain. We may have to impose a date of complete removal of affects. Alec then gave me a lift to Busby village where I was to collect Valerie from the hairdresser's but she had lft there so I walked back home on a clear, although cold autumnal day.