All things new at Christ Church Surbiton

To Christ Church Surbiton Hill this evening for the licensing of Aneal Appadoo as Associate Minister.

Aneal, Sabrina, Isabelle-Rose and Jacob moved to Surbiton Hill last month, and next Sunday sees Aneal's first Sunday in his new post. 

The church was packed with members of Christ Church and Holy Trinity, as well as family members and friends of Aneal and Sabrina.

Rev John Birchall, Vicar of Christ Church, welcomed us and made reference to the building works that had been done at CC over the last 12 months or so - see here for more info on their Building Project: 'Christ Church Renewed'!

It was a joyful and celebratory evening, with Ven John Kiddle (Archdeacon of Wandsworth) preaching - sometimes directly to Aneal - on what Christian leadership and ministry, shaped after Jesus, looks like. An illustration from his recent visit to Zimbabwe, comparing a 'Eucalyptus tree ministry' with the more fruitful 'Mango tree ministry', sticks in the mind and will give us things to think about for some time to come!

For Libby and myself it was also an opportunity to catch up with John, who was my first ever placement supervisor during Church Army training. The year was 1990 - a year before we got married - and I was sent to St Gabriel's Church in Huyton Quarry (Liverpool Diocese) where John was Vicar. I stayed at the Vicarage with the family, which included two pre-school daughters

I learned tonight that one of his daughters married last year and has just given birth to their first child. Congratulations Emily!

Join me in praying in coming days for Christ Church Surbiton as they use their new building for the glory of God, and as they get to know their new Associate Minister and his family.