Sarah
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Langport and Somerton Herald. Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Martock, and South Petherton News, and Western Counties' Advertiser. Saturday 07 May 1932
Page 5 Column 5
ILE BREWERS' NEW VICAR
FORMER CHAPLAIN TO THE FORCES.
INDUCTION SERVICE.
The Rev. William Beaumont RUSSELL has been appointed vicar of Ile Brewers, to succeed the Rev. A. C. SEDGWICK, M.A., who resigned the living recently and the induction of the new vicar took place on Thursday afternoon. There was a large congregation, and the induction was performed by the Rural Dean (Rev. J. N. BOUGHTON, vicar of Ilminster) in the absence through illness of the Archdeacon, Bishop C. F. de SALIS, of Taunton. Among those present at the service were the Rev. J. F. ALEXANDER (Ile Abbots), Rev. M. J. GRIFFITHS (Ashill), Rev. - ALLEN (Broadway), Rev. G. H. BODE (Fivehead), Rev. E. HASKINS (Donyatt). Rev. H. CLEVERDON (assistant curate, Ilminster,) and Mr. A. H. RAVEN (lay-reader, Drayton).
The Rev. J. F. ALEXANDER conducted a shortened form of Evensong before the induction, and the lesson was read by the Rev. M. J. GRIFFITHS. The service was choral and included the hymns “We love the place O God,” “O Thou who makest souls to shine” and “The head that once was crowned with thorns” and Psalms 121 and 122 (“I will lift up mine eyes” and “I was glad when they said unto me”) were chanted.
RURAL DEAN'S ADDRESS.
Prior to the ceremony of visiting various parts of the church, the Rural Dean gave an address. They were met that afternoon, he said, to give a welcome to their new vicar, who had that day been instituted at Wells. They were met in the parish church of the parish in which his ministry would be excercised [sic] to pray God's blessing upon that ministry, and to bring before them, his people, that sense of responsibility which was theirs' in having a parish priest among them once more as would also be his (the vicar's) responsibility in having an English parish and an English congregation to which to minister. The preacher remarked that he was sure it was a great disappointment to the Archdeacon, Bishop de SALIS, that illness prevented him from attending to perform the induction.
DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CLERGY.
The Rural Dean went on to say that he thought, speaking for his brethren of the clergy present that day that anyone who undertook the duty of parish priest in England must look out for difficulties to-day. “You will say that is not common in your calling,” he added, “that is in everything to-day – in business with its problems, in agriculture with its depression, in commerce and, in fact, in every single part of national life we seem to be faced with difficulties. True, but there is this difference between your difficulties and ours. The people of England want material things and are only restrained from obtaining them by lack of means, but we clergy, we sometimes feel as men whose duty it is to offer freely that which some people do not seem to see the need of. If there ever was a time when the clergy needed the sympathy and help of the lay people it is to-day. Sometimes we grow despondent, sometimes we almost lose faith and wonder is it worth struggling? Then it is that the help and sympathy, and above all the prayers of the faithful in the parish are a stimulus which keeps us going and starts us out with revived faith and strength.” If ever there was a day in the churches history upon which one might begin his ministry with hope and faith, it was Ascension Day – a day of remarkable encouragement to all. On that day the Lord Jesus Christ after His wonderful life and after his death and resurrection now ascended to Heaven to take His rightful place at the right hand of the Throne of God. Sometimes they were inclined to dispair with human nature – was it worth while struggling and striving? Was it not easier to let go and not bother? The ascension of the Lord pulled them up sharp. Sometimes they thought Christ was different. But He took that human nature and ascended, and now their common unanimity had its place before the throne of God. Human nature in all its weakness, failure and poverty was glorified and taken up to be with Him at the right-hand of God for ever and ever. What was it that for nineteen hundred years had kept the memory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gracious acts of redemption fresh in people's minds? It was because of that marvellous power which He had fulfilled in the promise “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end.” The ascension of Jesus did not mean He had finished with us and left us, not even that He had ended His work of the gracious Holy Spirit, but it meant that His Spirit was still with us. “The greatest proof that Jesus is living His Life is not in the New Testament records,” he said. “It is the lives of you and me – our own first-hand daily experience of the Living Christ beside us and with us. All we strive to do must be done in His power and by His presence. So I say to you all, take heart and take encouragement. Cling to those things of the Christian faith you have inherited from your forefathers. The holy catholic church is the one enduring thing in this transitory and changing world. We wish your vicar to be happy when he settles down among you and hope that he will gain your confidence. It is your duty to give him your sympathy and prayers.”
The Rev. William B. RUSSELL was formerly British chaplain in Boulogne, France. He is at present honorary Chaplain to the Forces and was Chaplain during the Great War.
<NOTES: William Beaumont RUSSELL son of William RUSSELL and Jane WOOD, married Lilian Marie BLACKBURNE>