No one, Jessica included, expected her to find her first job in this well-to-do region of the Home Counties. In fact, we suspect that she didn't really know where Dorking was when she applied for the post to teach history at a Church of England secondary school. The Baileys have northern souls, even though Tim was born during our 4-year sojourn in North London in the 1980s, close to the northbound carriageway of the M1. But Jess has landed on her feet and settled happily in Surrey, thanks in no small part to the warmth of welcome she has received at St Paul's Church.
The story of how, last summer, she became the tenant of a flat belonging to the church is a testimony to God's providence. Now she is a regular member of her 'small group' and involved in various other church activities.
We stayed with Jess until Monday of the Jubilee weekend, visiting the National Trust property at Polesden Lacey on Saturday and the largest vineyard in England, Denbies Wine Estate, on Monday. But Sunday centred on St Paul's, where the church tapped into the Jubilee enthusiasm that had begun to capture the country's imagination.
In the morning, it was 'Café Church', a regular event aimed at families and others who might never otherwise connect with more traditional church services and activities. It was some time since I had been to an occasion like this, in Beverley where 'Minster Way Network' had run similar events. I was impressed by what St Paul's were doing. The 'service', if you can call it that, was accessible and not demanding. Activities for children and families went on around what was being presented from the front and there was a relaxed atmosphere throughout. The message, based on video clips, was challenging, and there was opportunity to discuss it with others - or not, if you preferred. We were hardly 'Mystery Worshippers' but the warmth of welcome was genuine and not overwhelming, from a succession of different people. I was impressed by the clergy and other leaders 'working the room' both during and after the main event, which merged more or less seamlessly into a Jubilee 'Bring and Share' Lunch and a street party that was, sadly, somewhat cramped in style by the damp weather. Inside the church building the Thames Pageant was shown on a big screen. The opportunity to build community and reach out to others had been seized.
Café Church will not be to everyone's taste, and it is far more about building bridges than about Christian nurture, but we desperately need those bridges to be built in today's context, and there was ample evidence at St Paul's that the format is attractive and engaging. I am looking forward to a range of different worship experiences during the sabbatical and this was a great place to start!
We didn't stay to watch the Thames Pageant on the screen, so that the older members of the family could have some rest, but we caught a glimpse of the splendour and excitement of it all on TV (despite the BBC's celebrity-obsessed coverage) in Jessica's flat. Then it was on for afternoon tea with a St Paul's family who have a connection with Nancy.
We were back in Bury in time for the Jubilee Concert on Monday evening and marvelled with the rest of the nation at the performances of ageing rock stars and the lighting effects on Buckingham Palace.
These Jubilee celebrations were beginning to take hold of me.....
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings
and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
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