The induction service for the new Rector for the Church of England Benefice of Quinton, Welford, Weston, and Marston Sicca took place last weekend at St. Swithin’s Church Quinton. It was officiated by the Bishop of Gloucester, The Right Revd Rachel Treweek assisted by the Dean of North Cotswolds Deanery, Rev Canon Katrina Scott.
In front of a packed church, with a congregation from all four churches, the new Rector Rev. Ros Greenhalgh was officially licensed by the Bishop to run the benefice of churches in her charge. Rev. Greenhalgh was previously a minister at St. Mark’s church Cheltenham.
The Rev. Ros, along with her husband Tim, are looking forward to the challenge immensely, and here are her early thoughts about her new ministry. “A huge thank you also for the welcome that Tim and I have received over the past 3 weeks from all corners of the Benefice – it has been fantastic to meet so many lovely people who clearly care very deeply for the communities in which they live.”
A recent post on social media read: "Church should be everyone arriving with one piece of the jigsaw".
“Closer to home we each hold a piece of the jigsaw that makes us part of the Benefice of Quinton, Welford, Weston, and Marston Sicca.”
“As Christians, we are each holder of one piece in a 2.4 billion piece jigsaw of Christianity. As well as holding the piece of the jigsaw that makes me a Christian, I also hold a piece of the jigsaw in which the whole population of the world holds a piece too - one piece of the 7 billion piece jigsaw of humanity.”
“As a Christian holder of that one piece of the jigsaw we are part of God's plan for the world. A favourite Bible verse of mine is Luke 4.18 and by God’s Spirit, we have all been anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. We are all to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free.” “If we think back to that great big jigsaw - my jigsaw piece clicks in with the 2.4 billion piece jigsaw of Christianity which connects into the 7 billion+ piece jigsaw of humanity. Without me and you the jigsaw isn't complete. Not only that, it's difficult for the other pieces to fit into place.”
“So as we go forward into the future together, perhaps we can all think about what our personal piece of the Christian jigsaw looks like and who we might connect with in order that we can complete the picture. We are all significant in the life of our Benefice and we all have a role to play to share the love of Christ with those we meet week by week.”
The churches in the Benefice, along with the new community in Meon Vale, will get to know Rev. Ros better as she starts to officiate at services on Sunday 28th February. Working closely with the Church Wardens and wider Christian communities at the four churches in the Benefice.
