My second year as Chair has been as interesting and busy as the first!
Again I should like to express my thanks to the Committee for their
support and loyalty. Often Committee meetings have involved much
concentrated hard work because there have been so many things to discuss
in a short time.
In September a meeting was held with the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal
Church, attended by the Visitors, myself, and Nancy our Scottish Rep. In
October I attended a meeting with the Archbishop of Dublin at which the
Revd Ted Woods and Helen a member in Ireland were also present. Both
meetings produced useful discussions, and I hope will help to raise
awareness in these churches of the work of Broken Rites. In August our
Welsh members held a very successful meeting and hope to get together
again in 2008. Various regional meetings were also held throughout the
year. We conducted a very successful fundraising Appeal among the
Diocesan Bishops and the leaders of the other churches with which we are
associated, and I am very grateful for their generosity.
As you will be aware 2008 is the 25th
Anniversary of the founding of Broken Rites in 1983, and at
our AGM and 25th
Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 5th
April we are very privileged to have the Archbishop of Canterbury as our
speaker. As mentioned in the last edition of The Rite Lines, the meeting
will be held in
The Lower Hall
of St Columba’s Church of Scotland, Pont Street, London SW1X OBD and I
hope there will be a very good turnout of members to celebrate this
special occasion. This year Coffee and Registration is from 10.30 to 11
a.m. to facilitate a longer lunch hour needed for the Celebration. If you
are travelling from a distance and you cannot manage to arrive before
11a.m. just come when you can. If you are an Associate Member or a
Bishop’s Visitor and you would care to join us on this occasion you would
be very welcome.
In February 2008 Broken Rites is having a display stall at the Church of
England General Synod to raise awareness of our work. My thanks are due
to Dilys Stone and Jenny Taylor for organising this event and to Cilla
Diggle and some of the London members for manning the stall.
Broken Rites continues to offer support and information to members and
potential members who contact us via the website, through Bishops’
Visitors and other channels. The number of full time members is again
slightly down this year, but in my opinion, that does not mean that Broken
Rites will not continue to have a role. It is possible that we have to
redefine and reconsider our role, and explore additional avenues to
publicise our existence. This is something that we may have to consider
in the near future. Perhaps the 25th Anniversary year is time to take
stock!? Three members of Broken Rites have died during 2007 – Alison
Ogden, Doreen Burrows and Eva Savage. We are grateful for their loyalty
and commitment to Broken Rites and we remember their families at this
time.
