As of last night, it’s been one year since I was licensed to serve the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames as their Associate Priest. I had started earlier, since I was already licensed in the diocese, but only on an unofficial basis; for the last year, I’ve been a right down parish vicar (in the non-technical sense) (that is, I’m not the vicar of any church or congregation, but I am ‘a vicar’ in the vernacular, categorial sense of ‘a priest’). In the last year, the Team Rector has retired, and the Team Vicar has been obliged to take time off to recuperate, so my ‘half-time’ status has stretched to fit the circumstances.
The people of St Helen’s, St Nicolas’s, and St Michael’s (and All Angels’) have put up with my oddities with great generosity; the townspeople of Abingdon have received me cordially; and I detect no signs of damage, physical or spiritual, among the congregations. Numbers are up, finances are sound, and the staff work together harmoniously; the gospel is proclaimed, the sacraments duly administered; we’re baptising, confirming, marrying, mourning, welcoming, and giving thanks at a giddying pace. Thanks be to God for setting me to this holy work, and for the Spirit’s support in my trying to keep up with them.