Dean of St Albans to move to Anglican Chaplaincy in Paris
on Sunday, 13 December 2020 at 6.22 pm by Peter Owen
categorised as Church of England
The Dean of St Albans, the Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John, has accepted a post as Associate Chaplain at St George’s Anglican Church in Paris, after seventeen years at St Albans Cathedral. St George’s is an Anglican Church of the Diocese in Europe.
The Dean of St. Albans is far from being the only person on ‘Thinking Anglicans’ who uses ‘Anglican’ when they mean ‘Church of England.’ It’s actually a rather regular thing.
Actually I found Jeffrey John’s letter slightly misleading. It wasn’t clear from it that he was moving to be associate chaplain at St George’s – so people like me initially wondered whether he was replacing the current chaplain in St George’s. Who is, I think, deeply appreciated by most of his congregation. I think it was a lack that the current chaplain wasn’t referred to – ideally by name – in Jeffrey’s note.
As was his sermon to the Abbey faithful. Particularly moving and also deeply encouraging was his reference to the time when he attended the Sunday Eucharist in mufti prior to his being put in. A group from London were at the door gathering signatures in protest against his appointment. In the event not a single signature was obtained from a congregation close to 1,000. There is a God!
Toby Forward
3 years ago
So the Church of England, while still consecrating men to perpetuate an abusive arrangement with the women it ordains, neglects the gifts and values of a good man, once chosen by the Holy Spirit for episcopal orders, and obstructed by prejudice.
And we wonder why the Church is dying.
Yes, so true. I was in England, on sabbatical, when Rowan Williams was installed as Abp of Canterbury, and I remember the excitement over his selection and his installation. Then he threw it all away because he refused to stand up to the Evangelicals over John’s appointment as a bishop suffragan. There was no reason for John to be denied that post except the Evangelicals’ desire to demonstrate their power. I was reminded of the old saying that a newly installed leader is never stronger than at the moment of installation; Williams’ tenure was all downhill from there.
Paul Vallely commented at the time (2003) to the effect that Rowan the Archbishop may not have heard the cock crow, but Rowan the man surely did. On a personal note I remember sitting on the stairs of my parsonage with my wife in the small hours wondering what on earth i was doing as a priest in the Church of England, particularly as Dr John had undertaken to be celibate. My feelings towards the bullies at the time remain between me and my confessor.
Quite right. And let’s not forget that Williams appointed two flying bishops in his last months of office, both of them very young. A better man would either have left it for his successor, or, at least, appointed two candidates within five years of retirement. His tenure of office did not bring credit to the Church of England.
Canon Dr Michael Blyth
3 years ago
This man has been abominably treated by the Church of England for years. No wonder his partner had a breakdown some while ago. If every time Jeffrey moves there are still people demonstrating against his upcoming appointment this means the LLF project is already doomed, whatever its good intentions. The Anglican Church is simply not a safe place for its congregations in a wide number of ways (harrassment, bullying, homophobia, IICSA reports) so maybe the time has come to stop pretending it is. Over to you, bishops….
Jeffrey has indeed been treated appallingly but let us not forget that he is by far not the only one, he is a high profile victim but many more of us bear scars as bad or worse. The pain is not greater because it is about an episcopal appointment.
Father David
3 years ago
I still remember with much gratitude the excellent lectures Jeffrey John gave in Chelmsford cathedral some years ago on the subject of the miracles. A fine mind with a great skill in communicating the Gospel. St, George’s, Paris is most fortunate in obtaining the ministry of such a talented priest who should, by rights, have been a bishop.
Not coincidentally, the Thinking Anglicans blog also began 17 years ago, in August 2003.
The Dean’s message refers to “the two Anglican churches in Paris.” There are of course two CofE churches in Paris, plus the American Cathedral.
There are also good sized (larger) CofE congregations in Versailles, Chantilly and Maisons-Lafitte.
The Dean of St. Albans is far from being the only person on ‘Thinking Anglicans’ who uses ‘Anglican’ when they mean ‘Church of England.’ It’s actually a rather regular thing.
What a beautiful letter from the Dean.
Actually I found Jeffrey John’s letter slightly misleading. It wasn’t clear from it that he was moving to be associate chaplain at St George’s – so people like me initially wondered whether he was replacing the current chaplain in St George’s. Who is, I think, deeply appreciated by most of his congregation. I think it was a lack that the current chaplain wasn’t referred to – ideally by name – in Jeffrey’s note.
Apologies – the letter was taken out of a longer piece with a fuller explanation. The text has now been adjusted.
Best wishes for your move
As was his sermon to the Abbey faithful. Particularly moving and also deeply encouraging was his reference to the time when he attended the Sunday Eucharist in mufti prior to his being put in. A group from London were at the door gathering signatures in protest against his appointment. In the event not a single signature was obtained from a congregation close to 1,000. There is a God!
So the Church of England, while still consecrating men to perpetuate an abusive arrangement with the women it ordains, neglects the gifts and values of a good man, once chosen by the Holy Spirit for episcopal orders, and obstructed by prejudice.
And we wonder why the Church is dying.
Yes, so true. I was in England, on sabbatical, when Rowan Williams was installed as Abp of Canterbury, and I remember the excitement over his selection and his installation. Then he threw it all away because he refused to stand up to the Evangelicals over John’s appointment as a bishop suffragan. There was no reason for John to be denied that post except the Evangelicals’ desire to demonstrate their power. I was reminded of the old saying that a newly installed leader is never stronger than at the moment of installation; Williams’ tenure was all downhill from there.
Paul Vallely commented at the time (2003) to the effect that Rowan the Archbishop may not have heard the cock crow, but Rowan the man surely did. On a personal note I remember sitting on the stairs of my parsonage with my wife in the small hours wondering what on earth i was doing as a priest in the Church of England, particularly as Dr John had undertaken to be celibate. My feelings towards the bullies at the time remain between me and my confessor.
Quite right. And let’s not forget that Williams appointed two flying bishops in his last months of office, both of them very young. A better man would either have left it for his successor, or, at least, appointed two candidates within five years of retirement. His tenure of office did not bring credit to the Church of England.
This man has been abominably treated by the Church of England for years. No wonder his partner had a breakdown some while ago. If every time Jeffrey moves there are still people demonstrating against his upcoming appointment this means the LLF project is already doomed, whatever its good intentions. The Anglican Church is simply not a safe place for its congregations in a wide number of ways (harrassment, bullying, homophobia, IICSA reports) so maybe the time has come to stop pretending it is. Over to you, bishops….
Jeffrey has indeed been treated appallingly but let us not forget that he is by far not the only one, he is a high profile victim but many more of us bear scars as bad or worse. The pain is not greater because it is about an episcopal appointment.
I still remember with much gratitude the excellent lectures Jeffrey John gave in Chelmsford cathedral some years ago on the subject of the miracles. A fine mind with a great skill in communicating the Gospel. St, George’s, Paris is most fortunate in obtaining the ministry of such a talented priest who should, by rights, have been a bishop.