Pause for Thought June 2026 

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12)
 
In Ecclesiastes we are given the beautiful image of a three-stranded cord — a picture of strength, unity and belonging. It is a passage often heard at weddings, where the love of God is spoken of as the bond that holds two people together. Yet these words also speak powerfully to the life of the Church as God gathers us together in love. We belong to one another, not in a way that restricts us, but through the gentle, faithful work of the Holy Spirit, weaving our lives together and helping us remain true to the calling God has placed before us.

Across our congregations, people come from many different walks of life, each bringing their own gifts, experience and story. St Mary’s Church and Greyfriars Church are also joined together as linked charges, sharing in the calling to offer an Episcopal presence within the towns we serve. In recent months, we have been seeing more clearly that sharing resources between our two churches is not simply a practical necessity; it is also a faithful expression of who we are called to be. We have already been blessed by those who serve generously across both churches, and through that shared ministry we have seen again that we are indeed stronger together.
 
With that spirit in mind, both our individual vestries and our joint vestry meetings have been considering how we might simplify our governance by moving towards one merged vestry. Both vestries have agreed that this is the right path to explore, and the formal process has now begun. There will be practical steps ahead — preparing a new constitution, informing the relevant bodies, agreeing representation from each church, and seeking approval in due course. Yet beneath those practical details lies something much deeper: this is not about losing the identity of either congregation, but about strengthening our shared life, so that each church may flourish more fully in the place where God has set it.

As we continue this journey, please hold both churches, and all who serve within them, in your prayers. May we grow in trust, in hope and in love, and may God continue to strengthen us for the work we are called to do together.

Revd Alison