Who we are
We believe
News
Bishops
Diocesan Office
Resources
Mission
Vacancies
Parish contacts
Vocation
Ministry Development
Education
Young People
Cathedral
It was perhaps appropriate that in this 60 th anniversary of the end of the Second World War that our Diocese should be exploring new links with Germany, in this case with Paderborn, a city of 150, 000 situated to the east of the Ruhr. Organised by Rev Juergen Bridstrup, the purpose of the trip was to explore the possibility of links with the Paderborn district of the Protestant Church to encourage the exchange of clergy and links between parishes and young people.
Joining Juergen were the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, the Venerable Trevor Jones, Archdeacon of Hertford and Rev Canon Dennis Stamps, Ministerial Development Officer.
Through conversations during the trip with the Roman Catholic Johann Adam Moehler Institute for Ecumenical Studies it is hoped that friendships will grow with the Catholic Church in Paderborn.
Such partnership already exists in the Diocese links with Italian Catholic dioceses and at parish level between St Luke’s Leagrave and Berlin. In June 11 “Pilgrims” from Berlin-Spandau visited St Luke, Leagrave as part of the growing partnership of Churches in Alt- Straaken and Pichelsdorf , an ecumenical venture. Rev Canon Stephen Purvis’ programme included Coventry, the Bunyan Trail, meeting the Mayor of Luton and primarily building the fellowship of the four church communities of Christians together in Leagrave.
For more information on developing links with Germany please contact Rev Juergen Bridstrup – juergen.bridstrup@btinternet.com or 01707 872328.
This article is published in the September edition of SeeRound, the diocesan magazine.