Confessions of a Back-Pew Bloke

Moulded by God

Now, there was no burning bush moment for me, but I do deeply sympathise with Moses’s protestations in Exodus as God asked him, a humble shepherd, to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, because, although I am not totally “slow of speech and tongue”, I do struggle to share my story verbally.   I guess that … Read more

Vicar’s Letter Jan 2026

Spiritual retreats 2026

How often do we berate ourselves when we realise our reactions to others can so often be unhelpful to them and us.   This has got me thinking how stubborn I can be at times – yes this is often a kneejerk reaction, but before we have had time to consider a more mellow and easy … Read more

Vicar’s Letter Dec 2025

stressed

Stress: a simple word but one which can bring about feelings of burden, not coping and labouring under pressure.  I hear another brother of mine is now taking time off due to stress and we are so thankful it wasn’t a more sinister diagnosis!   Hopefully as someone wrote in a birthday card of mine ‘get some … Read more

Vicar’s Letter Nov 2025

Wath woods in autumn 2025

For five years now we’ve been driving around with a fault message on our car dash board fearing that to rectify it would cost more than the car was worth.  Today I’m celebrating because a garage has carried out a simple cost effective remedy, so hopefully no more error messages, and a new lease of life … Read more

Vicar’s Letter Oct 2025

Church is like a marathon

The Mission Statement for our Parish is: To follow Jesus in every area of our lives, by:Being a welcoming churchWorshipping and growing in faith togetherPraying and learning togetherSharing the good news of JesusServing our community I will never forget a previous boss of mine saying ‘stick to the knitting!’ in the context of his continued … Read more

Vicar’s Letter Sept 2025

Summer holidays and climate change

I hope you have had a restorative summer!  For many families, it was a time to break from daily routines, including school runs, homework, and planning, to a more relaxed, easy-going pace.  For others, days and weeks may have changed little, except for less heavy rush-hour traffic and more time outside, enjoying fair weather and warm summer … Read more

Vicar’s Letter June 2025

God is a gardener

How quickly the seasons of the year progress and pass by – you sometimes have to stop and really notice the abundance of growth around you to appreciate the beauty, fullness and splendour of spring/early summer.   Not long ago we were waiting for buds to burst open, blossom to display its colours and lawns to … Read more

Vicar’s Letter May 2025

Rebuilt and resurrected through Christ

A few years ago I was sitting near a window, and happened to look out when I saw a large round straw bale in the field coming down the hill, gathering momentum, out of control and come crashing into a dry stone wall – finishing up in a quiet lane at the bottom with luckily … Read more

Vicar’s Letter April 2025

A cross, symbol of Christ and Easter

When did you last take up a new hobby, learn a new skill, or enjoy a new pastime or interest? I am always amazed and uplifted to hear of people who have defied expectations, and done just that. I’ve recently come across two friends of Wath Church who have recently qualified as new driving instructors … Read more

Thoughts on Springtime

Springtime flowers

​I’m eagerly waiting to greet the first day of Spring on Thursday, March 20th.  Fun fact: In 2024, the first day of Spring fell on March 19th, the earliest first day of Spring in 128 years.  (Farmers Almanac)  Spring is my favourite season when l can begin to shed some extra layers of comfortable, cosy and … Read more