Bishop of Northampton David Oakley consecrated a new healing and reconciliation garden at the Cathedral in Northampton on Sunday 15th May.
“A garden is never complete,” he said while opening the new healing and reconciliation garden with heart[1felt and full apologies for the failings of individuals, the hierarchy and the institution in their handling and response to those who have been abused by members of our Church.
Just as a garden evolves and grows, so to our understanding of abuse in our Church will grow, the bishop said, adding that he hoped the garden will offer “a place of peace to all those who directly or indirectly have been caused pain, especially those who do not feel able to enter our church buildings.”
He asked for prayers for the work with those who have suffered abuse at the hands of individuals in our communities, and for those whose hurt has been compounded by the lack of appropriate response from the institution.
Elsewhere in the diocese of Northampton,the current Catholic Church building in Daventry, St. Augustine’s, celebrated its 50th birthday with a special service on Sunday April 24th.
The highlight was the incensing of the building and the people – a sign of prayers ascending to God – and also the dignity of the worshippers. The worshippers came from various Christian churches in Daventry, and included Rev. Dawn Stokes,the current Rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church, and Rev. Andy Hardwick from the Daventry Methodist Church. Mr. Norman Chandler of the URC Church in Long Buckby also took part.
The preacher was the Rev. Michael Webber, the previous Rector of Holy Cross. He spoke of the progress the unity of the Christian Churches over the years, and that this implied a change of mindset.
Bishop David Oakley gave the final blessing, and congratulated the congregation on the anniversary. Also present were Chris Heaton-Harris, the local MP, Malcom Ogle, the Deputy Mayor, and Cllr Lynne Taylor.
Parish priest Fr James Cassidy said: “Everybody enjoyed the service, and it was good to be together after the enforced separation due to Covid. We were together in worship and also at the reception afterwards.”