The Parish has a new Team Vicar Rev. Elizabeth Bland duly licensed by the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, on Monday 11th May at St. Clare’s Church.
The Bishop succeeded in making this stuffy ancient ceremony an informal affair, bearing in mind the attendance of children from the “Shine” Choir who sang two wonderful songs of praise, much to the delight of a full congregation. The Bishop was suitably impressed and gave the youngsters a “High 5” and said they had the right name and truly shone.
Our new Vicar grew up in Alnwick and still has family there. She attended Durham University studying English Language and Literature. After graduating lived in the South-East of England for the best part of twenty years. Immediately after university spent a formative year in South-East London doing voluntary work for a scheme called Time for God. Subsequently Elizabeth lived west of London, working variously in the Oxford Diocesan Conference Centre for Young People; as a Medical Secretary; and as a Teaching Assistant in two primary schools. During that time married Steve and had two children.
After some twenty years of thinking about ordination, Elizabeth finally went to a selection conference in 2001 and was recommended for ministerial training. She studied part-time for three years on the St Albans and Oxford Ministry Course. At the end of that time, the family moved to the North-East – what felt like a return home for, and a return to Steve’s roots, who it turns out, has much stronger family connections with Northumberland and North Tyneside than I do!
The Bishop using a Pear Tree as a prop did not preach from the pulpit and engaged the children in explaining how the church should “grow in and with the community”. He gave the tree to Elizabeth and suggested children should ask to sample the fruit a few years hence.
Friends and relatives of Elizabeth travelled from long distances and from her previous Ashington parish to see her inducted. They enjoyed the buffet meal afterwards prepared by members of St. Clare’s, ending a joyous day for all, welcoming our new Team Vicar.
Pastoral Team left to right Jan Carr, Rev. Debbie Loughran, Rev. Elizabeth Bland, Rector Chris Pearson and Pamela Lovelass.
Elizabeth and the Bishop meet parishioners after the Service
