Other Links

Convener: David Bunney Mark Argent, Nelson Bainbridge, Meriel Chippindale, Glenys Cockerell, Alan Fox, Kate McIllhagga, Peter McIntosh,

1 Most of the work of the Network is carried out in Synod and Districts, very little being done from the ‘centre’. The core group seeks to promote silence and retreats throughout the Church, publishes the journal Window, liases with Synod ‘link persons’, and provides representation on the Doctrine Prayer & Worship Committee and the ecumenical Retreat Association. Throughout the Church there are regional and local retreats, quiet days and similar events, most of them arranged by the Synod ‘link persons’ and their support groups, and many in co-operation with our ecumenical partners. It is good to see how these events have continued to attract those who wish to explore the deepening of spiritual life in these ways, and to make time and space in busy lives for reflection and renewal.

2 Information about what is happening around the Church is best obtained from the Synod ‘links’, and since there have been a number of changes over the past year or so we include a complete list:

Northern:

Jenny Young, 28 Dispensary Street, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1LS

North Western:

Gillian Heald, 32 Redbridge, Bolton, BL2 5PB

Mersey:

Ken Jones, 3 Wyncroft Close, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, CH65 6TT

Yorkshire:

Rodney Ward, The Vicarage, Swine, Hull, HU11 4JE

East Midlands:

Allen Morton, 23 Tilton Drive, Oadby, Leics., LE2 5WW

West Midlands:

Meriel & Ken Chippindale, 172 Station Road,

Sutton Coldfield, B73 5LE

Eastern:

Alison Chart, 13 Nuns Gate, Thetford, IP24 3EL

South Western:

Brenda Stephenson, 33 Cranhill Road, Street, BA16 0BZ

Wessex:

Keith Green, 51 West End, Cholsey, Oxon., OX10 9LP

Thames North:

Glenys Cockerell, 51 Redbridge Lane West, Weanstead, London, E11 2JY

Southern:

Pamela Pavitt, 30 Wakefield Gardens, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 2NR

Wales:

Julie Hopkins, 10 Church Road, Roch, Haverfordwest, Pembs., SA62 6BG

Scotland:

Jack Dyce, 340 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 2BQ

3 A number of changes have also taken place on the core group. Mike Playdon and Jack Thompson have completed their terms of service and have been succeeded by Meriel Chippindale and Kate McIllhagga. We are particularly grateful for the way Jack has looked after membership and subscriptions, bringing us up to date with our records, and helping to achieve a much more stable financial situation. The new convener is David Bunney, and the new editor of Windows Alan Fox. We wish them both well in their new responsibilities.

4 The core group and the Synod ‘links’ are committed to creating and making known opportunities for silence, quiet days and retreats, recognising that within the Church there is need for both celebration and contemplation; encouraging an ecumenical sharing of the resources of spirituality; deepening the spiritual life of congregations within our Church; and exciting others about silence. In these ways we believe we can make a real contribution to the life of the Church as it is, and contribute to the formation of the future Church. What the latter might be we cannot tell; but silence, waiting upon God, coming closer to God through reflection and contemplation may well enable his people to be more open to his doings among us.

5 Information about the Network may be obtained from the convener, the Revd David Bunney, 19 Abbey Road, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1LA.