Horses at the rectory

Silence from the rector's wife (once the Curate's wife) - now there is a rarity! The weeks are flying by in a blur; writing is taken up with the weekly church newssheet that I edit and minute writing when needed. Blogging can no longer be used to vent my opinions or emotions because there are lurkers out there! Some parishioners admit to reading this blog – good for you – I’m pleased you have found it ...and others read and say nothing. How do I know this?-  Because people let slip in conversation (without realising it) things that I have written about. If asked, I am always happy to talk about blogging but I do not advertise the fact that I blog.

Another reason for the silence is that words have failed me on so many occasions when I see what people expect from their Rector. It seems that with six churches, life is like a six horse carousel; - each church being represented by a horse that is either going up or down, as it circles around the Rector@6. He finds himself riding upwards as churches begin to reach outwards and think about mission and, when there are debts to be paid, arguments to be resolved and hurts to be mended, he rides downwards.  Perhaps, after a certain number of years in ministry, you stop riding these waves.

The other problem that is more unexpected, is that if the Rector@6 tries to make the church more accessible to people who do not come to church regularly, he finds that they have very little understanding and want everything on their agenda – particular dates and times (usually having invited the guests or booked the hall for the reception before speaking to the rector). Heaven forbid having to have the baptism on a Sunday and in a church service! Old friends or family vicars are pulled out of retirement and are recruited before speaking to the actual incumbent. It’s one thing making yourself accessible and another – being walked all over!

I have thought seriously about ending this blog and just keeping diaries to reflect on events at a later date. So often there are things I cannot write about – but I am shocked by some of the behaviour I have seen since being a ‘wife of ’. Yet Vicars are some of the most content people in their work. I can see why – because when things fit together and people work together – the world is a better place!

 Despite all the debris, life is beginning to make sense – and maybe the words will begin to flow more easily in time.

Water, wine, candle oil... a rector's dilemma!

I have the Rector@6's permission to tell this tale of misfortune as a warning and to prevent anyone making the same mistake. It is also serves to reinforce the importance of the vital role of all who volunteer their time and talents to serve the church in different roles (- especially when you have a new rector/vicar!)

On this particular Sunday, in one particular church, the Rector@6 was involved in setting the altar for the communion service. All completed, the service began in this small parish church. There was only a small congregation of familiar faces (which was probably a good thing on this Sunday). Each person came to receive the bread and wine and returned to their seats. I hear that there were some comments about the taste of the wine at that stage of the service but the Rector@6 was not aware of these. It was only as he came to clear the table that he noticed a globule of something floating on the top of the wine. He is required to finish the left over consecrated bread and wine so, anxious to finish the service on time, he duly drank the remaining contents - and was aware of a very, strange taste indeed!

On the completion of the service, the Rector@6 went to check the cupboard where everything was stored, and there were the bottles; - the wine and a clear bottle of liquid that he had presumed was water. NEVER presume anything! To be fair - the bottles were stored next to each other in a container and at the bottom of a dark cupboard. The 'water' was lamp or candle oil and this is what everyone had tasted - the Rector@6 more so than others. Having checked the small writing on the label to see that this was not a full medical emergency, he joined the congregation for coffee - where the conversation seemed to centre around the strange metallic tasting wine. The Rector@6 owned up to his mistake and was extremely apologetic - pointing out that he would be the first to experience any ill-effects due to the amount he had consumed. It was a very alarming lesson for him to learn. Fortunately all seemed to see the funny side and, I suspect, the Rector@6 will not be allowed to help in the setting up of the Altar on his own for many years!

NB I have it on the church warden's authority - everyone is up and around today!