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Repton 1350

2006 marked a significant milestone for the Church in the midlands.   In 653 AD, a group of four priests, monks from Lindisfarne, arrived in Repton from Northumbria. At that time Repton was a principal residence of the royal family of Mercia, and the priests accompanied Elfleda (or Alchfled - spellings vary), daughter of Oswy, King of Northumbria, on her marriage to Paeda, son of the great king Penda of Mercia. Northumbria had already converted to Christianity, and it was a condition of the royal marriage that Paeda should be baptised and receive Christian teaching.   Among the four priests was Diuma, who in 656 became the first bishop of Mercia.   The other three were Adda, Betti, and Cedd.   (In 669, Chad, the brother of Cedd and the fourth bishop of Mercia, moved the see to Lichfield.)

To celebrate the occasion, a group led by the Bishop of Repton, the Rt. Rev'd David Hawtin, arranged a number of events, starting in February with a workshop and service.   On Friday 19th May there was a Promenade Lecture on 'Vikings and Christians' at Repton School, and on Saturday 3rd June a pilgrimage from Derby Cathedral to Repton.
A panel in the McMaster window claims to depict the baptism of Prince Penda by Bishop Finan of Lindisfarne, but note the mediaeval church behind.

Saturday 18th February 2006

In the afternoon, Ray Simpson, an Anglican priest from Lindisfarne, led a packed workshop on 'Mission Then and Now', discussing the lessons we can learn from the Holy Island monks who brought the Christian faith to our region.   Ray is an author of books on Celtic prayer and mission, as well as a long-standing parish priest and leader of parish-based mission. He described the danger of becoming a 'heritage church' and argued that we should return to our roots.   Like the Celtic church, we should work with contemporary culture, not seek to impose our own.   For our present age, which hungers for spirituality, he proposed a model based on the 7 day a week church, the people's monastery.   An emerging grassroots movement is inspiring churches to network and become villages of God.

Later, at St Wystan's Church, an ecumenical service celebrated the consecration of Diuma at Repton in 656, as well as our present-day mission.   The celebrations were attended by a large congregation and many senior clergy including: the bishops of Derby, Repton, Lichfield and Lincoln; the former bishop of Repton; representatives of the bishops of Southwell and Stafford; representatives from the Roman Catholic, United Reformed, Methodist, Baptist and Black Majority Churches, the Salvation Army and the Wales Orthodox Mission.

Brother Damian, Vicar of Holy Island, preached the sermon.   (To read it in full, click here.)   He reminded us that Diuma, Chad and their companions were schoolboys at Lindisfarne, educated by St Aidan for a missionary life-style, sent out to spread the good news of the gospel, with no expectation that they would ever return to their homes.   Similarly, we are all missioners doing God's work, His mission, aided by His Word.   An essential part of our role is to sit with, to be alongside those in need.   Finally he spoke of the transforming power of love and reminded us that we carry in our hand and in our heart "the most tender, sensitive, precious, desirable, wonderful gift that can ever be shared, the Love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ."

Prayers were led by the Rev'd Philip Webb, Derbyshire Ecumenical Development Officer, and lessons read by representatives of the Roman Catholic, United Reformed, Methodist and Baptist Churches, as well as the Salvation Army. It was particularly appropriate that the final blessing was given by the Rt. Rev'd Jonathan Gledhill, bishop of Lichfield.

This was a great occasion, and we thank everyone whose hard work (helping with the arrangements, the bells, flowers, music, refreshments, stewarding and much besides) made it all so memorable.

Visiting clergy included . . .

The Rt. Rev'd Alastair Redfern, the Bishop of Derby; the Rt. Rev'd David Hawtin, Bishop of Repton; the Rt. Rev'd Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield; the Rt. Rev'd John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln; the Rt. Rev'd Henry Richmond, former Bishop of Repton; the Rev'd Tony Wood representing the Bishop of Stafford; the Rev'd David Bignall, representing the Bishop of Southwell; the Venerable David Garnett, Archdeacon of Chesterfield; the Rev'd James Stapleton of the Black Majority Churches; the Very Rev'd Archimandrite Father Deniol, Administrator of the Wales Orthodox Mission; the Rev'd Ray Simpson, Guardian of the Community of Aidan and Hilda; Brother Damian SSF, Vicar of Holy Island; the Rev'd Philip Webb, County Ecumenical Development Officer; Father Martin Sylvester; the Rev'd Terry Oakley, Moderator of the East Midlands URC Synod; the Rev'd Wesley Blakey, Chair of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District; the Rev'd Tim Heard, representing the East Midlands Baptist Association; Lt Col. Trevor Davis, East Midlands Divisional Commander, Salvation Army; the Rev'd Vernon Marsh, Chair of the Sheffield Methodist District; the Rev'd Alison Tomlin, Chair of the Leicester and Oxford Methodist Districts.