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Following our recent Diocesan Link Committee visit to Seoul, we were delighted to welcome back to the Diocese the Very Revd James Park, Dean of Seoul Cathedral, alongside Revd Moses Joo, Revd Aeduk Kim, Revd Gregory Yang, Mrs Veronica Kwon and Mrs Michaela Park.
Throughout the visit the main themes were being part of a worldwide church, the power of a shared liturgy and the role of education, all of which the committee members experienced both in their time in Peterborough and also during time spent in their link parishes.
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After engaging tour of Peterborough Cathedral on the first day of their visit, the group visited the Diocesan Retreat House at Launde Abbey where they were able to spend time in fellowship and prayer. This was followed the next day by a visit to Rutland where the delights of Rutland Water, and Oakham Castle were enjoyed. In the evening Uppingham Parish church hosted a special cultural exchange evening where all from the deanery were invited to share in a conversation about life in Rutland as compared to life in Seoul. A wonderful evening was spent sharing stories and experiences.
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Our Korean guests also got to visit Northampton, sharing Mass at All Saints and enjoying a visit to Trickers Shoe Factory, the oldest shoemaker in Britain and still owned by the founding family. Their visit to Northampton also saw a meeting with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Northampton, Bishop David Oakley and a chance to walk the Becket trail, site of the infamous trial between church and state in 1164.
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On Friday, the focus was education with visits to Northampton University and to a number of primary schools in St Benedicts Parish. This was particularly interesting to the group as there is no church involvement in education in Korea, although they were interested to see how they could adapt some of the ideas on show for their Sunday Schools.
The weekend was spent in their link parishes, attending services, meeting with the church community and sharing village customs, including a traditional church fete and bellringing! We look forward to following the continued partnerships between the parishes.