A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Stephen
Bishop Stephen has written to the people of the Diocese of Lincoln, following the conclusion of the Makin Review four-step process.
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The Bishop of Lincoln was delighted to visit St Mary’s Church in Stamford to license the new parish priest, Fr Edward Martin. Fr Ed is currently the Vicar of Edenham with Witham on the Hill, and Warden of the Edenham Regional House. He now holds responsibility for St Mary’s alongside these roles. As part of Time to Change Together, these churches are part of the Society Local Mission Partnership and are exploring working in closer collaboration.
Fr Ed was licensed by the Bishop of Lincoln and installed into the parish by the Archdeacon of Boston, the Venerable Justine Allain Chapman. It was a pleasure to welcome the Bishop of Oswestry, the Rt Revd Paul Thomas, who preached an excellent sermon on the life of discipleship in the Catholic tradition. He used the example of Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray, giving them the words of the Lord’s Prayer, and explored how both priest and parish might approach this new chapter in their life together.
As a Society parish, St Mary’s receives episcopal care for its pastoral and sacramental life from the Provincial Episcopal Visitors. While the See of Richborough is vacant, Bishop Paul is supporting Society parishes in the Diocese of Lincoln.
Please pray for Fr Ed and his family, and for the parish, as together they seek to grow and flourish as disciples, building God’s kingdom in Greater Lincolnshire.