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The Diocese of Peterborough is divided into two archdeaconries and each archdeaconry into six deaneries. A Deanery is a geographical area containing a number of neighbouring churches. The Rural Dean is the missional leader and pastor of a Deanery, and a Lay Chair assists the Rural Dean in their leadership. Since her installation, Bishop Debbie has been visiting the Deaneries to see how she can bring God’s work to all corners of the Diocese and encourage all parishes to thrive. In November Bishop Debbie spent the day finding out more about the Wellingborough Deanery
Bishop Debbie‘s visit to Wellingborough deanery began with tea, coffee and pastries with the Greater Chapter and Lay Chair, Tim Allebone, which was hosted by Fr Ben Lewis and the generous and hospitable team at Saint Mark’s church in Wellingborough. This was a great opportunity to find out more about the Deanery with representatives from each benefice sharing the joys and challenges of ministry in their own setting and Bishop Debbie sharing some of her own reflections. During this a weekly toddler group was meeting in the church giving Bishop Debbie the occasion to meet the team and the little ones who were having lots of fun.
After leaving St Mark’s, Bishop Debbie visited Revd Michelle Cotton on the Kingsway Estate who shared the blessings and challenges she faced in her two churches. Bishop Debbie and then went on to be welcomed at St Mary the Virgin where Fr Robert Farmer and the team shared more about their context in a different part of Wellingborough.
Understanding and seeing the centre of Wellingborough was important to Bishop Debbie, so in the late morning she spent time with Revd John Westwood and wardens at All Hallows and All Saints in the town centre before visiting the shops and exploring more of the town itself. ‘The Daylight Centre’, a charity who prevent and alleviate poverty, homelessness and social exclusion across North Northamptonshire is based here and Bishop Debbie met with the chief executive, Carina Fisher, operations manager, Sarah Heighton and volunteer, Nick Chapman along with Rural Dean for Wellingborough, Revd Jenny Bland over a superb lunch cooked by chef John Coleshill.
Much was learnt about the centre’s work across their foodbank, shop and meeting space and everyone was treated to the beginning of a drumming workshop towards the end of the visit!
In the afternoon, Bishop Debbie visited Earls Barton and the ecumenical toddler and baby group. The group is an Anglican and Methodist partnership group called ‘B1Bs & BOBs’. Bishop Debbie was keen to get involved with setting up for the group and chatting to the team and families who came along.
The itinerary for the afternoon allowed Bishop Debbie to see the more rural side of the Deanery and included a visit to Mears Ashby School, where she met with the staff and students and participated in collective worship alongside Revd Katrinia Hutchins.
Bishop Debbie’s visit concluded with a Deanery ‘bring and share’ jacket potato supper hosted by the team at St Mark’s Church. This was followed with Deanery Synod where, following the opening worship, Bishop Debbie spoke openly and inspiringly about the National Church, and her hopes and dreams for the Diocese.
Revd Jenny Bland, Rural Dean for Wellingborough said, “the deanery were deeply encouraged and blessed by Bishop Debbie’s visit and pleased to share with her a snapshot of who we are and what we look like.”
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