New Chaplain

Revd Jason St John Nicolle, the assistant curate in the Kidlington Team Ministry, will succeed Revd Dennis Mason as chaplain of St Birinus' Chapter. We are grateful to Fr Jason for his help and support this year and we are delighted that now, following his ordination to the priesthood this last Petertide, he has agreed to become our chaplain. We look forward to worshipping together under his lead and pray that he too will be blessed in this aspect of his ministry.

Chaplain Retires

Fr Dennis Mason, after many years service has reluctantly decided to stand down as chaplain of St Birinus Chapter. Neither he nor Edna, his wife, have enjoyed the best of health over the past two years and it is a testament to his loyalty that he has continued to lead our worship during this time. He first joined the GSS as an altar server in Scarborough, becoming a life member in 1980 at St Barnabas Church. In the time running up to his retirement from the bank, he trained for the sacred ministry at St Stephen’s House and was ordained in 1988, succeeding Revd Philip Hunt as our chaplain. I know that chapter members past and present would want me to express how much we have valued Fr Dennis’ support and friendship. I certainly believe that we have been very fortunate to have in Fr Dennis a chaplain who has not only led the ceremonial of the Guild Office prayerfully and reverently but has been a tower of strength and support to all the chapter officers over the years. We all wish Fr Dennis and Edna a speedy recovery and many happy years ahead.

Patronal Festival

The Chapter celebrated St Birinus’ Day at St John’s Church, Kidlington with Guild Office, Sermon and Benediction. Revd Jason St John Nicolle officiated and gave the address taking as his theme Birinus’ mission to the West Saxons, which serves to remind us that to mission to those outside the faith is an essential part of our calling. We met in the recently refurbished Lady Chapel and whilst we were few in numbers, many of our regular members being away, it was nevertheless a joy to sing the office there and pray together in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Present: Fr Jason Nicolle, Bros Ken Belcher, John Stack, Jim Curtis & Ben Heffer; Srs Susan Greenaway & Iris Darville.

Apologies: Bros Julian Calcut, Denis Dean, Sid Cox, Matthew Bemand & Trevor Langrish; Sr Angela Dean and Fr Dennis Mason.

Collect for St Birinus

Everlasting God,
whose servant Birinus
carried the good news of your Son
to the people of Wessex:
by his prayers,
grant that we who commemorate
his service may know the hope
of the gospel in our hearts
and manifest its light in all our ways;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.