Clergy Letter June 2025

My time as a Curate.

This month is a time for celebrations. We celebrate Pentecost, St Peters 150th anniversary and my licensing to this Benefice, as an Associate Minister. The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost is not just a historical event. The same Spirit that ignited the early church continues to work through each of us today. This is evident in St Peters celebrations in Stoke on Tern and across the churches in our Benefice.

God made his presence known in a spectacular way, through roaring wind, fire and the Holy Spirit. My experience has been a gentler and less dramatic one. God’s message often comes to us in a gentle whisper, I have learned to wait patiently and always listen.

As I reflect on my time as a Curate in the United Benefice of Cheswardine, Hales, Childs Ercall, Stoke on Tern, Hinstock, Sambrook, Peplow and Hodnet, I feel profoundly grateful to those who have supported me on this journey and to the Holy Spirit who prompted me to explore ordained ministry. I love the people here, the ministry and place I have been called to. I am where I am meant to be, serving God’s people and the communities in North Shropshire.

What has emerged from my time as a Curate has been the work with the schools, through Open the Book, the Knitted Bible, and recently the Experience Pentecost Workshops. A particular highlight was in taking my first communion after I was priested, and our joint venture with the Freedom Church doing the “Colour’s of Easter” workshop on Good Friday.

 I have had setbacks, illness and loss during my curacy, I do not know what the future holds, the future is unknown to us. God knows what will happen and because he will be with us through it all we need not be afraid.

May this Pentecost be a time of renewed passion and purpose as we continue to share God’s love and light with those around us.

With thanks,

Rev Chris Alexander