New year hopefulness

The Dean of Chester, Tim Stratford, reflects on a new year, its uncertainties and a common hope. This was first published in January's CDN which you can download here

I find myself preparing some thoughts for the New Year at a time of terrific national uncertainty. As I write it is not clear whether the government can survive to the end of the day let alone the week or next month. By the time you read this we will all know the answer. It feels unsettling right now.

Of course, the truth is that the future is always very uncertain. None of us can know what tomorrow will bring and, as we find ourselves at the start of a New Year, we may well look forward with a sense of unease as well as anticipation.

It was only a few months ago that I arrived here as Dean and began a new ministry based at the Cathedral. Everything is new, and I am enjoying getting to know the rhythms of life, local customs, undiscovered places and colleagues. Hitherto I have spent most of my ministry in the midst of Church of England parish life. I served 180 parish churches in my last role. Every one was different. Each were deeply immersed in the life of the local community, enriching and transforming lives. Many were challenging injustice and making a difference to society. I was very uncertain at the start of my time as an archdeacon about what I might discover. The church in east Leicestershire is far from perfect but it is buoyant and I left hopeful.

I never really belonged to the churches I visited as an archdeacon. Now as Dean I belong to a church community once again. I am adjusting to worship in a tourist attraction that welcomes up to 1000 visitors a day bringing its challenges and opportunities. We are learning what it means to tell visitors that we are open for worship rather than closed. We are working out how those who come to see the historic building of Chester Cathedral can encounter God and meet the people of God.

The Cathedral is first and foremost a church that gathers the disciples of Jesus Christ for worship and supports them in mission. Sometimes this means those who consider themselves to be the Cathedral community, sometimes the diocese gathers here, sometimes civic society, often visitors. We are also learning that we are called not to live solely within the confines of our own walls and are asking ourselves how better to support the wider mission of all, how we can serve our local community better and what we offer to the churches of the diocese.

I am reminded that we share this journey with each other, that we share uncertainties and we share a common hope.

Tim Stratford
Dean of Chester

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