A look at the large stone plaque within the bell tower of St Peter's Chertsey shows a strange and interesting coincidence: the plaque is now ’full’ and yet the first and last named Vicars of Chertsey were both inducted on March 14th -- with 690 years between them!
Therefore, Sunday March 14th this year marks the 700th Anniversary of Richard Le Gayte’s induction in 1310 and the 10th Anniversary of the induction of Tim Hillier, who's also our Rural Dean, in the year 2000!
The plaque also mentions one past vicar, Thomas Ponder, who began his ministry in the 16th century as a Roman Catholic priest but due to Henry VIII’s break with the Pope, had to retire from his post and became the first Anglican vicar of Chertsey! Thomas probably also looked on as the great Chertsey Abbey was destroyed at the command of the same power crazed Henry!
Tim's reflection: "In looking at so long a history one cannot help but place the events and developments of the last ten years within their true historic context. A verse of Psalm 103 comes to mind: ‘As for man his days are like the grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone’. (Not that I have any plans to be gone just yet!)
I have sometimes commented to people that as a vicar I have the best job in the world. And I mean it. To have the opportunity and responsibility of leading a Christian community within the Anglican Church with all its opportunities is something I treasure. To have the daily opportunity to serve the wider community, to introduce people to Jesus Christ and encourage them to deepen their love and understanding of God is, to use an overused phrase, a deep privilege. I have always taken seriously that phrase used at the induction of a vicar by the bishop: ‘receive the cure of souls which is yours and mine’. An archaic phrase but this is essentially what ministry is about - getting our souls in tune with God and all that means both for this earthly life and life beyond. Now there’s a vision statement!
I look back on the last ten years and see so much evidence of God at work but especially in the area of answered prayer. Concerted, focussed prayer on the part of many people has, I believe, been central to all that God has done within the church. I look back at the first substantial ‘Vision for the Future’ and see all of its aims achieved and many more besides. The provision of outstanding team members and financial resources to carry out ministry has been vital. But above what stands out has been the continuous stream of people, old and young encountering God as they come to faith and then grow in that faith. Our soon to be completed church interior will provide us with a building more suited for the purpose, its funding another amazing answer to prayer!
I believe this is a great place to be and thank God for the people that make St Peter’s a community which I do believe is very special and which is always close to my heart."
A peal will be attempted on the bells of Chertsey in the afternoon of Sunday 14th March in honour of these historical anniversaries.