Churches Together in Henley

THIS year sees the 30th anniversary of the start of Churches Together in Henley.

CTH was inaugurated in December 1995, replacing the previous Henley-on-Thames & District Council of Churches.

At the time, 10 churches became members. The Methodist Church was sharing with St Mary’s and has since closed.

Pheasants Hill URC is now part of Christ Church URC, and St Nicholas, Remenham is now part of the benefice of Henley and Remenham, so we currently have six churches in full membership (St Mary’s, Holy Trinity, Sacred Heart, the Baptists, Christ Church and the Benefice of Shiplake, Dunsden and Harpsden) while the Society of Friends has Observer status.

Our aim is to provide means of consultation between the churches, facilitate common witness to Christ by member churches and to work and pray for Christian unity.

Our activities are Lent lunchtime services, a sunrise service on Easter Day and regular meetings of the ministers.

Fr Jeremy Tayler, rector of St Mary’s, was inducted as area dean for the Henley Deanery on Tuesday, June 24. The deanery contains seven parishes/benefices and a total of 16 churches, so quite an increase in responsibility.

This year also sees the 35th anniversary of the induction of Rev Duncan Carter as vicar of Holy Trinity Church. He has now retired and is in the process of moving to Gloucester. Sam Brewster was appointed vicar in September last year and he and Duncan have been working together since that time.

Also leaving Trinity Church this month is Andrew Cowan, curate, who has been appointed as New Testament and NT Greek Tutor at Oakhill Theological College. We wish Andrew and his family well.

Another person leaving Henley is the former curate at St Mary’s, Rev Romey Poston, who is moving to take up a position in the Saffron Walden & Villages team in the Chelmsford Diocese in Essex.

The Shiplake benefice has had its parish profile approved by the diocese and an advertisement for Priest in Charge has been prepared for the Church Times. Interviews were expected to take place yesterday (Thursday).

We support the Henley Debt Centre and the Nomad youth and community project based at d:two and especially its food bank. For more information, visit their websites and Facebook pages.

The debt centre has vacancies for two trustees starting in September. Potential candidates must be active members of a local church and on an electoral roll. More information and times of church services can be found on the individual churches’ websites.

Mike Hails, secretary