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‘𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦.’ 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘩 29:11

The dawn of a new year gives us cause to reflect on the past twelve months and to look forward, with a little trepidation and excitement, to what lies ahead. It is hard to believe that in 2025 we will mark a quarter of a century since the new millennium began. At that time there was much fear that on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1999 all computer technology, and indeed the world, would grind to a halt and everything as we knew it, would end.

Those fears were thankfully unfounded yet the world we had hoped to see emerging in this new era, with people living at peace with their neighbours, and with more kindness and respect, has sadly not been realised. Instead, we are now living on a planet that is shrouded in the darkness, pain and sorrow of war and violence in so many different places. Calls for peace, reconciliation and love for our neighbours have been ignored or unheard.

In Northern Ireland we are grateful to have witnessed the restoration of devolved government in the last year, with the Executive and the Assembly sitting once more at Stormont. In coming weeks, it is hoped that a new Irish Government will be formed, following the November Irish General Election. The new UK Government is also slowly bedding in and nearing the completion of its first six months in power.

To govern means making decisions and often difficult choices. We continue to pray for all who hold positions of responsibility in this land and throughout the world, that they may be acutely aware of the needs of all people and especially of the poor, neglected and underprivileged, mindful particularly of the high rates of child poverty.

We will have failed our children and grandchildren if we do not work strenuously to help and support the needs of the next generation, which may mean being prepared to have less for ourselves so that they may have something. May we all, in our call to serve one another, provide a voice for the voiceless and work tirelessly for healing and peace locally and internationally, offering help, hope and encouragement to those who will come after us.

The poet T.S. Eliot wrote, ‘For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.’ As we begin a new year may the language of hurt and division be confined to the past so that the words we use, and the actions we undertake, may be focused on love rather than hate, peace rather than war, light rather than darkness.

We believe that our beginnings and our endings are in Jesus Christ. In faith we never journey alone, for He is our guide and the voice of truth and hope. May we all journey well in 2025.

‘𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵.’ 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 15:13

The Most Revd Eamon Martin (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland)

The Most Revd John McDowell (Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland)

The Rt Revd Dr Richard Murray (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland)

The Revd Dr John Alderdice (President of the Methodist Church in Ireland)

The Rt Revd Sarah Groves (President of the Irish Council of Churches)

Advent is a joyful season, a time when we look forward to Christmas and prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth – the moment when, as John writes, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”.

In many of our homes and churches we put up cribs to remind ourselves of this extraordinary moment. These captivating nativity scenes – a baby lying in a stable, watched over by his devoted mother and father, as the three Magi pay homage and the shepherds look on – enthral children and stir something in many adults, as well. For a while, we, too, become onlookers.

And yet, how fully, I wonder, do we grasp the magnitude of what’s being celebrated?

For Christians, Jesus’s birth is one of the two greatest events in human history – and I use the term ‘human history’ quite deliberately. “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son’, Matthew writes, ‘and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).’”

Jesus came among us fully human and fully divine. He experienced the human condition in its raw completeness. His life story – an infant refugee growing up in an occupied land; witnessing poverty, inequality and oppression; experiencing injustice, persecution, bereavement, betrayal, mockery and abuse; feeling abandoned and, ultimately, suffering an unimaginably brutal death on the cross – means that Jesus endured many of the hardest trials that can befall humankind.

Whenever we feel lost or abandoned, when our world is in turmoil, when the valley is at its darkest, Jesus is the one constant we can turn to. He knows what suffering feels like. Our Lord’s birth, the Incarnation, is one of God’s greatests gifts to us. It allows Jesus to empathise with us, and he will never forsake us. God’s second great gift is, of course, the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him and follow his way.

This Advent, if you find yourself an onlooker at the Nativity scene, open your heart to the wonder at its core and experience the joy of Christmas in all its fullness.

I wish you every blessing this Christmas, and a happy and peaceful New Year.

𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘷 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘔𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 ‘𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦’ 𝘢𝘯𝘥 ‘𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵’ 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵. “𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺,” 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, “𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.”

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 – 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.

Arriving back in England just in time for Easter certainly was jumping in at the deep end adjusting to family, church and climate. It was a great joy to have twelve of the family at lunch on Easter day. My body, having acclimatised perfectly to the heat of Mahajanga, seems not to be prepared to adjust back again and I shall go to the grave moaning about the cold.

On my first week back the Bishop of Lincoln invited me to be an honorary assistant bishop of Lincoln. Nine months later the legal papers have not been processed to the point where they can be signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Safeguarding procedures and learning a new vocabulary of church terminology (key mission/festival/resource/hub churches, Mission Partnerships…) have been quite a learning curve.

The first news from Madagascar at Easter was extremely sad. Sister Jacqueline, the leader of our Anglican Sisters, died of cancer. This was a hard blow to the Community as her predecessor had died of Covid. Both were vivacious and extremely capable, outgoing and loving Christian women.

With my departure from Mahajanga all bishop’s scholarships and handouts ceased abruptly which many recipients didn’t believe would happen although there was plenty of advance notice. The Malagasy are extreme optimists! Unfortunately, so also did some building projects and I have been trying to get them going again. I have given priority to the work at Port Bergé. There, thanks to those of you who have sent donations (especially St John the Baptist, Barnet) we are just completing the roof of the new church and continuing with school buildings. The diocese of Canterbury had given a generous grant for the church but the Archdeacon doubled the size of the church I had envisaged and so ran out of money! The school at Port Bergé is a great success story. There are now 756 pupils with the result that it is desperately short of classrooms and desks. I have weekly (at least) phone calls keeping me in the picture in the hope that I will wave my magic wand.

Soon after I left Madagascar the election of a new bishop took place. For various reasons this was annulled and the process restarted with the Archbishop of the Indian Ocean’s candidate being elected. He is the Ven Darrell Critch of the breakaway Anglican Church of North America. Archbishop James Wong has been the spokesman of GAFCON and all those who do not accept the role of Canterbury in the Anglican Communion. The new bishop will be consecrated and installed on Sunday, 15th December. Both Archbishops (Canterbury and Indian Ocean) leave office in January.

Far away from these church politics I now enjoy ministering to small rural congregations in glorious, but cold, ancient churches in our nearby villages on Sunday while Sarah continues to worship at Bourne Abbey. In many ways it seems like “old times” and it is hard to believe I was travelling by dugout canoe earlier this year!

Thank you to all who have read Our Mad Life for the last five years, and contributed and prayed for my diocese in Madagascar. I could not have completed any projects without you.

May we all have a peaceful and merry Christmas spreading the message of love and goodwill to this divided and torn but beautiful world.

God bless you and yours,

+Hall

There was a large congregation in St Columb’s Cathedral, on Sunday 1st December, for one of the highlights of the festive season, the traditional candlelight Advent Procession. Based on the Great Advent Antiphons, the service is held in deep affection by a devoted congregation, many of whom return year after year to listen to readings, hymns and anthems on the theme ‘Darkness into Light’.

The Christmas trees lining the aisles in preparation for tomorrow’s opening of the Cathedral’s Christmas Festival lent a festive atmosphere to the special occasion. As is customary, though, the church was plunged into darkness for the beginning of the service, representing the darkness before creation and the darkness of sin.

The four Cathedral Choirs – directed by Nicky Morton and Louis Fields – began singing in the gallery of the Cathedral, gradually making their by candlelight from the west end of the church to the chancel, symbolising our journey of faith towards Christ.

This evening’s service was led by the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Raymond Stewart, assisted by the Cathedral’s Pastoral Assistant, Rev Canon John Merrick. The lessons and readings were read by People’s Churchwarden, Miss Muriel Hamilton; Diocesan Reader Mr David Bell; and Parish Readers Ms Jacqui Armstrong and Mrs Heather Fielding.

The Diocese of Derry & Raphoe has published a new, free prayer resource, ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’, to help people pray for our Church and the community.

The pocket-sized booklet reflects the issues and realities that many of God’s people are grappling with currently, such as the cost-of-living crisis, ill health, loneliness and anxiety. There are prayers, too, for political leaders, for the renewal of the Church, for the building up of faith, for clergy, for vocations, for the missionary Church and – locally – for “vision and purpose” as the ongoing diocesan review continues.

Commending the booklet to parishioners, Bishop Andrew said he hoped they would find its readings and prayers helpful. “Being able to pray is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. Let’s use that gift as we seek to build hope and chart the future of our parishes and diocese.”

The new resource includes ‘Prayers for Your Parish’, ‘Prayers for the Diocese’, ‘Prayers for Your Wider Church’, ‘Prayers for those Struggling with Life’, ‘Prayers to Build Up Faith’, ‘Prayers to Build Vision and Hope’ and ‘Prayers for Mission & Pioneering’.

‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is similar to a previous prayer resource, ‘Hope in the Pandemic’, which was produced four years ago to encourage parishioners during the Covid–19 crisis; it proved extremely popular throughout the diocese and far beyond. Bishop Andrew hopes ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ will prove equally reassuring and just as popular.

“In almost 50 parish groups in over 110 churches, our diocese has faithfully served God through challenges in the past,” Bishop Andrew said, “and we look to God with confidence into the future, knowing that He is always faithful and His love is the same, ‘yesterday, today and forever.’”

‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is available free. Anyone looking for a copy should contact their rector, in the first instance, or they can get in touch with the Diocesan Office: 24 London St, Londonderry BT48 6RQ.

Two parishes in Londonderry have been recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Voluntary Service, which celebrate the “outstanding work” of volunteer groups – “unsung heroes” – throughout the UK. They’re among 22 groups in Northern Ireland named in this year’s list, which also includes Ulster Project Derry/Londonderry.

Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK. His Majesty The King pledged to continue the Award to ensure that volunteers from across the UK were recognised for the services they provided within their communities. Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

St. Augustine’s Church Volunteering Group was recognised for “overcoming isolation and extending welcome through inclusion and events at a polarised interface”. The Rector of St Augustine’s, Rev Nigel Cairns, has it as “incredible news” and recognition of many years of volunteering. He praised all those who had contributed to the outreach of ‘the Wee Church on the Walls’ down through the years.

“A huge ‘thank you’ and well done to all who volunteer at St. Augustine’s,” Rev Cairns said. “A huge retrospective ‘thank you’ to the memory of those who have gone before us and who were instrumental in their vision, outreach and community engagement, and upon whose work we have built.

“If you help at the wee church to welcome tourists, help with catering events for the community, serve LEAH lunches, move furniture, organise arts events, oversee concerts, provide talks, keep the grounds looking beautiful, provide flowers, provide a welcome, make a ‘cross in your pocket’ for the many visitors, or pray for the dozens of prayer requests received through the church café and tourist ministry – or any other voluntary role which engaged and encouraged the wider community over the years – then you’re part of this award. Congratulations one and all.”

The Cathedral Youth Club, in Londonderry’s Fountain Estate, has been recognised for “providing resources and support for youth and elderly, facilitating community learning and promoting good health”. The youth club, which has an ‘open door’ policy, serves as a community hub for people of all ages, including young people, babies, toddlers, young mothers and senior citizens.

The club, which is managed by Jeanette Warke M.B.E., is open every day from 9am to 9pm, and provides programmes and activities such as a homework support club, after school activities, arts and crafts sessions, history classes and yoga sessions. It also runs a diner, where people gather daily to enjoy fellowship.

Among the other organisations recognised this year is the Ulster Project which, for almost 50 years, has been working with Christian teenagers in Northern Ireland and the United States, to educate them and develop them as leaders to effect change in their communities. Its citation says its KAVS is for “promoting peace by instilling shared values of mutual respect and understanding in young people”.

Hundreds of people gathered at the War Memorial in the centre of Londonderry, this morning, for a service and Act of Remembrance to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for freedom in the two World Wars and in other, more recent, conflicts.

This morning’s Service – under a benign autumn sky – was led by the Pastoral Assistant at St Columb’s Cathedral, Rev Canon John Merrick, who was joined by senior clergy from the four main Churches.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster; the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown; the Minister of First Derry Presbyterian Church, Rev Colin Jones; and the Minister at Carlisle Road Methodist Church, Rev Peter Morris, led those present in prayers and hymn-singing, including ‘Abide With Me’.

The annual ceremony is held on the Sunday nearest Armistice Day. It included a solemn ceremony during which wreaths were laid by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL; political and civic dignitaries; and representatives of various military and policing services.

The Britannia and William King Bands provided music for the event, including a rendition of the National Anthem and a poignant playing of The Last Post.

Immediately afterwards, a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was held at St Columb’s Cathedral.

The Bishop of Kondoa in Tanzania has thanked people here for the warmth of their welcome during his week-long visit to the Northwest to initiate a five-year mission link between his diocese and the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.

Most Rev Dr Given Gaula was speaking in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe where he preached the first of two sermons at a Service of Evening Prayer to launch the new partnership agreement. The companionship link could see groups and individuals from each diocese visiting each other to witness and share in work for the Kingdom, and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.

During this evening’s service, Bishop Andrew Forster presented Bishop Given with a pectoral cross, cut from the same piece of ancient bog oak as the cross he himself wears. The crosses were carved by the Bishop’s Curate of the Ardara Group of Parishes, Rev Robert Wray.

“What I hope,” Bishop Andrew told Dr Gaula, “is that whenever you wear this cross, it will remind you to pray for us.” Pointing to his own cross, he said, “Whenever I wear this cross it will remind me that your cross is made from the same piece of wood, and I will pray for you. And it reminds us that even though we come from very different parts of the world we are children of God, we are one in Christ.”

Rev Wray presented Bishop Given with a larger cross, too, to place on his desk in Kondoa. It was a gift from the clergy of Derry & Raphoe.

Clergy and parishioners travelled from far and wide across the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe to attend the Launch Service, including from Macosquin, Ballyshannon, Omagh, Fanad, Dunfanaghy, Inver, Faughanvale, Donegal, Moville, Limavady and Londonderry.

In his sermon, Dr Gaula drew inspiration from chapter 5 of Luke’s Gospel, which recounts how Jesus called his first disciples. He tells Simon – who had had a fruitless night fishing – to put out into deep water and let down their nets for a catch. The sceptical Simon did as Jesus suggested, and they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. They signaled their partners in a second boat to come and help them, and they hauled in so many fish that both boats began to sink.

“Friends,” Bishop Given said, “God is calling us to go even deeper, to experience his power, to experience his blessings.” Peter’s faith brought him many blessings, the Bishop said. He challenged the congregation to do three things to make the new relationship between Kondoa and Derry & Raphoe go even deeper.

“The first thing I encourage each one of us to consider on iour journey is our love for Jesus. We need to love Jesus so that our relationship can go even deeper, Our relationship can be a good example of the Anglican Communion. We can only make this possible if we love Jesus in our lives. Jesus will be the centrepiece of our relationship.

“Secondly, not only to love Jesus, I’m encouraging each one of us to live for Jesus. Live Jes`us. If we live Jesus, those who are surrounding us – our neighbours, our children, our grandchildren and all around us – when they see us living Jesus, their lives will be transformed and our relationship will go from strength to strength.

“And thirdly – in order to go even deeper and catch more fish by bringing more people to Jesus – please, friends, I am encouraging each one of you, we should not keep Jesus as our own property but rather we should give Jesus to others. And this is a call to mission. You need to give Jesus to your children. You need to give Jesus to your granchildren, to your neighbour. God is calling us to give others Jesus. It is only Jesus who can transform the lives of others.”

The second sermon was preached by Bishop Andrew who said he felt blessed to be inaugurating something that would be good for us and good for Kondoa, as well. The mission link is being facilitated by CMS Ireland, whose Mission Director, Jenny Smyth, was in the congregation.

“For too long,” Bishop Andrew said, “the church in the West – the bit that we’re part of – has looked to the church in other parts of the world and almost said something along the lines of, ‘Be like us’. And in so doing, what we’ve tried to do is transport our culture – our Christian culture – to a church that actually needs to transport some of its culture to us, because what we see in the church today is that in places like Kondoa – in places across the global south – [there’s] a church that’s growing, a church that’s vibrant, a church that’s filled with a heart to communicate the Gospel into its community and into its world. And what we need, Bishop Given, is some of that passion back in the church in the west, some of that heart.

“So, the days have long since gone when it was about ‘The West to the Rest’. What we need is the church that is growing and vibrant coming to us and sharing that love and goodness and grace, and thank you for already doing that.”

Bishop Andrew said he was filled with excitement about the new link. “I need to hear of a diocese that in 10 years has grown from 5,000 members to 25,000 members. I need to hear the stories of a diocese where people are content to meet under a tree to worship God, because in their worship of God they go out to share Jesus. I want to hear about a diocese that is empowering women in a mainly Muslim area – empowering women about their own value in the eyes of Jesus Christ. I want to hear the stories of a diocese that is not content to sit back and maintain what we have but to reach out and do great things for Jesus. That’s what I’ve been hearing about all week, and it’s been wonderful, and that’s what I hope will bless us.”

This evening’s service was led by the Dean of Raphoe, Very Rev Liz Fitzgerald, who was assisted by the Archdeacon of Raphoe, Ven. David Huss, and members of the Cathedral Chapter, Rev Canon Mervyn Peoples and Canon Brian Russell who read from Scripture. Archdeacon Huss led the prayers. Music was provided by members of the Cathedral choir, accompanied by church organist Renee Goudie.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe has signed a partnership agreement with the Anglican Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania that could see individuals or groups from both dioceses visiting one another over the next five years to witness and share in work for the Kingdom and supporting one another through prayer, resources and skilled personnel.

The document was signed at the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Synod, on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, by Rt Andrew Forster, Rt Rev Dr Given Gaula (Bishop of Kondoa), and the Mission Director of CMS Ireland, Jenny Smyth.

Bishop Andrew described the partnership as a “companionship link”. In committing to it, the two dioceses have agreed to pray regularly for one another’s work; maintain regular contact through a named link person; and offer opportunities for individuals and groups to visit and join in with the life and work of the church in the other jurisdiction.

The people of Kondoa survive mainly through subsistence farming and are overwhelmingly Muslim. Despite this, Bishop Given has succeeded in growing the Church in the area through what he has described as “aggressive evangelising”, raising church membership there to more than 25,000.

Among his aspirations for the link with Derry & Raphoe are assistance with the training of new clergy for his diocese and the provision of safe, clean water supplies for local people.

In his Presidential Address to this year’s Synod, which had ‘partnership’ as its theme, Bishop Andrew spoke of his excitement about the new relationship. “Today, we are stepping out – reaching out – in faith,” he said, “as we inaugurate a new companionship link with the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania.” Bishop Andrew, who first met Bishop Given at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 2022, said it was a great personal pleasure to welcome his counterpart to our synod.

“I am tremendously excited by this joint initiative,” Bishop Forster told delegates. “My prayer for our partnership is that we will spur each other on in mission and evangelism, and that our new relationship will prove mutually beneficial.”

Bishop Andrew Presented Dr Gaula with a number of gifts, including a copy of the Book of Common Prayer and a plaque bearing the Diocesan crest.