31 May: Whitchurch

I'm a firm believer that, as a Minister, you will never be more beloved than a few years after you have left. It's enough time for people to forget all the things that drove them up the wall, but not enough to forget the things they liked about you. 

Possibly for this sort of reason, there's an unofficial rule that you shouldn't go back to somewhere you've served for at least twelve months afterwards. It has however been almost five years since I left Whitchurch, and so I thought that I might risk not only going back there, but also attending St. John's, the closest and largest church I served in my years there.

St. John's, Whitchurch

 In some ways it was a strange departure when I left; we were only just post Covid, and it had left its mark on both me and the congregation. One thing I'd done during the first Lockdown was to grow a beard; I still remember the slight buzz in the distanced congregation at our first service back, when I peeled my mask off to reveal it! 

I was, despite now having shaved it off again, spotted as soon as I walked in, and it felt like everyone wanted to say hello; I had hoped to maybe sneak in a little bit and not be a distraction from the worship for Trinity Sunday. No such luck it seemed, and there were plenty of conversations over refreshments afterwards. 

I spent eight years in Whitchurch, and they were ones of much growth and development in my ministry, and in the family - when we arrived, we had two primary-age children, when we left one was waiting for GCSE results and the other was reaching Year 9 - and Fiona was in Pre-Ordination Training! When we moved, it was never particularly about the people - family-wise it made sense, but I think also as a Minister you have to be aware that you can have a sell-by date and it felt that I was rapidly reaching it by the time I moved. All of us in Ministry have different gifts, different strengths, different approaches; when Stationing works well, it allows that point of reflection as to whether you are still what the churches and circuit need. It doesn't have to be a falling-out; in my case, it was more that I could see that while I had been what was needed for a spell, it was time for someone else to have their turn. 

I did my best to not really get involved in conversation about my successor; I'm not the Minister there any more, and while it doesn't mean I don't care what's happening there it's also nothing I can or should have any influence over. I wouldn't want a predecessor sticking their oar in, so why should I try and do the same to someone else? I know in my own mind that I was far from perfect in my time there. Though I also wouldn't be human if I didn't enjoy being made a fuss of.

A walk through the Town Centre to go and see some old friends; some time later, a walk round to see another. Later again, a walk down to the Canal to see how close I could get to the infamous Canal Breach from just before Christmas last year; we used to walk down there often, especially in the summer, and it was also one of my regular running routes, which made it strange to see the pictures last year. Less than half a mile back to the Manse, and then back to town along the Sandstone Trail.

Again, things have changed. One of our favourite Cafes has gone; the Civic Centre and Library are currently awaiting their fate due to the discovery of RAAC and their closure. There are now no Bank Branches at all, although one of the vacant shops has become a Banking Hub. There were a few empty shops when we left; there's probably at least the same number now, although they're not all the same ones. 

On the way to see some more friends for Tea, I went past Tallarn Green; later on, on the way back to my hotel near Wigan, I went past what had been Malpas High Street Church, and then Brown Knowl. In some ways I wished I'd spent more time down there - there were others that I'd have liked to have seen, but there just wasn't time.

It felt more positive than some of my visits, despite some of the same themes coming through. What made the difference? Well, I saw and spoke with people. I spent significant time with several of them. I was reminded of how they, and others that we talked of, had been part of my journey. It was less about place, more about people; and with more of those people still around, I couldn't help but feel that bit more thankful.