Saturday January 20 and Lord's Day January 21 2024

Last Friday we headed down to Cardiff, where we stayed with our third son Dewi and his family and had a lovely take away with Eleri's sister Fflur and her family who are also denizens of Cardiff.

Our main reason for heading that way is that on the Saturday our second son, Dylan, was ordained and inducted as pastor of Bethel Evangelical church in Clydach. I had never been to Clydach before. It is a community of around 8,000 just off the M4 Motorway and 5 miles north east of the centre of Swansea. It grew up in the coal era when the Swansea canal ran through the village and coal was broughtdown from Ystalyfera and other mines to Swansea and the sea. It also has the Europe's largest nickel refinery, nickel being important these days for batteries. Anyway Bethel have a lovely building but it was rightly judged too small for Saturday and so we used the large, beautifully kept Welsh speaking Capel y Nant (Clydach is 24% Welsh speaking) for the service and came over to Bethel for refreshements after.

The service was a double one in that Dylan was first ordained by Paul Whitely and the other elders of Emmanuel, Cardiff and then inducted by the three elders already at Bethel (Nigel Clifford, Nathanael Ayling and Mark Barnes). Paul Whiteley preached a very appropriate sermon from Isaiah 6.

There must have been 200 present - family, friends, Emmanuel and Bethany members, etc, etc. It was good to chat to many but there were lots I missed chatting too. Great day.

We then stayed in Gowerton with Dylan's parent-in-law. They looked after us very kindly. Gruff seemed a little confused to have four grandparents in one house but he took it in his stride. he's three so he's aware that there are changes going on but he's coping well. Poor Daisy, his sister, is really not well at the moment. Anyway, it was great to hear Dylan preach his second sermon from Titus on Sunday morning in Bethel. It really is a wonderful set up there amd Dylan seems to be fitting like the proverbial hand in glove.

After lunch with the Davies's we drove through the rin to Cardiff. We had wanted to be there for the evening service but all three of us (Owain and his dog was with us) are not 100% so we presssed on to London. Eleri managed to tune in to the 5 pm service in Aber so we heard most of Rhodri on Romans 1:18 and then Dylan's sermon on God's Image from Genesis 1. They are different in style but both can preach and have learned well from various good teachers. What a blessing they are.

Arrived home not too late after a great weekend. Eddie kindly preached for me here. I hope they got on well.

West Kilburn Baptist Induction

The deacons ask their new pastor vital questions (Can you spot the back of my head?)

It was great to be at West Kilburn Baptist Church recently for the induction of their new pastor, Steve Palframan. WKBC is an FIEC church now but CHBC would have been in the same NW grop of LBA churches back in the day. I have known the previous two pastors (Peter Law and especially Paul Pease before him). The induction included a church rededication. Also taking part were Paul Wells, who Steve knows from his previous church in Liverpool and Bob Cain from Flitwick who served as moderator when WKBC were without a pastor. The preacher was Yannick Christos-Wahab of Stockwell Baptist Church who preached well from Psalm 96. It was good to see a few familiar faces, including Welshman James Sercombe. Tasty African style food to follow. We wish the church well as this new chapter begins.

Weekend in Guernsey

I spent last weekend in the Channel Island of Guernsey. It was my fourth visit, I believe. It is a lovely island. My connection is that Robert and Elaine Yerby were members here in Childs Hill when I first came. After they married it was hard to find accommodation and so they moved to Elaine's native Guernsey, where Robert was able to find work in banking. They have four grown up children, all living elsewhere at the moment. They are members of La Villiaze Congregationalist church, an independent church Baptist in its make up. Following retirement from the bank. Robert has become their pastor and I was in Guernsey for the induction on the Saturday. About fifty came to that and a nice tea followed. I also preached twice on the Sunday when it was the more usual 15 or so. My wife and I had a really lovely time in Robert and Elaine's beautiful home, full of souvenirs and various knick knacks. We were waited on hand and foot. Reuben Saywell was preaching here.

Another induction

Another Saturday, another induction. This one was nearer home - in Hemel Hempstead, at the Congregational Church in Alexander Rad where John Marshall ministered at one time. The new minister is Chris Bennett who was at Wilton Community Church. The chairman was Gwynne Evans of Hayes and the sermons was given by Jeremy Marshall. There was a good turn out (over a hundred) in their beautifully redesigned church building which now has the preaching point on the longer wall and chairs have replaced pews. The entrance way has also been remodelled and other improvements made. Great to meet with various ones and chat over tea. It has been some time since the church had a pastor and it is good that they now have one. Chris sounds like a good fit.

Induction at Emmanuel Cardiff

We were so glad to be with the folk in Emmanuel, Gabalfa in Cardiff last Saturday. This is the church where my sister-in-law and her family and two of my sons are members. Fflur's husband Glyn Ellis is an elder there and Dylan is one of the ministers in training. They have been without a pastor for some time but have recently called Paul Whitely, previously at Penyrheol in Gorseinon, Saturday was his induction. Paul and his wife Lynsey are from Swansea. They have three kids. The meeting was chaired by Peter Milsom. The preacher was Steffan Jones from Pontardawe who preached to Paul and the congregation, helpfully, on Philip the evangelist. A lovely tea followed. Nice to meet Geoff Gobbett, Meirion Thomas, Dave Lewis, family members et al. There must have been 15 or more ministers present. The trip home was very straightforward, which we appreciated. We wish the church well.

Bradford Induction

It was good to be in Bradford on Avon last Saturday for the induction of the new minister, Robert Strivens, formerly elder here in Childs Hill and Principal at the London Seminary. The chapel was packed as was the tea later in a nearby school. The last seven years have been difficult ones for the Bradfordchurch, following the deparure of their previous minister Paul Oliver and the loss of all the elders by death, retirement or resignation. A new church has been formed based in nearby Hilperton and members of that church were present.Basil Howlett chaired and Bill James preached. The service can be viewed here on Youtube.

Rhodri's ordination and induction

It was a massive joy to be there in Aberystwyth last Saturday as my oldest son, Rhodri, was ordained and inducted to the pastorate. As he revealed in his side of the history of the call (more an apologia for the call than anything else - church elder Ian Jones spoke for the church) I have always said to the boys, hopefully you will be ministers but not if you aren't called.

About 200 must have been present, some having travelled a long way, and it was great to see everyone. Robert Strivens chaired and David Green preached (from Deuteronomy 6). I read, Geoff prayed and John Noble, one of the other elders at AP spoke too. Just great.

Lovely tea after too, of course.

Induction of George Platt at Highgate Rd

Another Saturday, another induction. We were over at our neighbours Highgate Rd Chapel in Kentish Town this afternoon for the induction of George Platt. The induction was led by Robert Strivens and Chris Bennett preached. There was a good number there and a nice spread to follow. Tim Collier led the meeting and Andrew Hill the former pastor was among those taking part.

Induction in Perth today

It was a great joy to be with our friends Andrew and Jill Lolley today for Andrew's induction to the pastorate of Craigie Reformed Baptist Church, Perth. About 70 gathered from all over Scotland and England. We had a history of the call in three parts taking us from Tinshill, Leeds through Childs Hill, London to CRBC. Then there was the induction (led by Barry Garth of Penicuik) and preaching from Robert Strivens my fellow elder and LTS Principal. We had the service in the M'Cheyne Rooms elsewhere in Perth and then in the church's own building. Great day.

Paul Yeulett inducted at Grove

It was good to be at Grove Chapel in Camberwell last Saturday for the induction of Paul Yeulett to the pastorate there. The place was pretty packed with family and friends and well wishers. I liked the service which included Paul and his wife joining the church as members first. I thought he could have kneeled for the laying of hands but it was all very dignified and helpful. He was also required to sign that he would uphold the church's doctrinal standard the shorter catechism (I guess that was chosen over the confession as it is an independent church in government). Paul was previously in Shrewsbury and was a school teacher for 11 years before that in the north east at Emmanuel School. Ian Hamilton preached briefly from the end of Romans 11 and into Chapter 12. There was a massive spread to follow.  It is good to know that Grove have found a new minister after several years without. Let's pray for blessing on them. Their illustrious past guarantees nothing but faithfulness to God means a lot.

Local induction

It was good to be in Finchley on Saturday for the induction of Spencer Cunnah to the pastorate at the nearby Kensit Memorial Church, oops Kensit Evangelical Church that should be. Former pastor Philip Eveson chaired and the preacher was my father-in-law Geoff Thomas, who preached (having escaped the floods of the Aber area) an excellent sermon (see the basis text here). So it was a rather Welsh affair Spencer and his wife Wendy, like myself, being Welsh and Aberystwyth University graduates. The Finchley church, despite being on the same site as the LTS, has been without a pastor for several years and they are very grateful to have found another Welshman (Andrew Davies was the previous pastor). Despite the rain we've been having Saturday afternoon proved to be nice and sunny in North London and so we enjoyed an excellent tea on the lawn. We'll be having deja vu when the LTS end of year takes place in a fortnight's time.

Out and about

It was good to be last Saturday at the induction for Derek Sewell in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead. There was a good crowd present and it was good to hear my old friend Paul Pease, pastor of Derek and Rachel's home church, Hook Evangelical.

Then on Monday I was up at the John Owen Centre for a lively discussion of the Eric Metaxas book on Bonhoeffer. We were mostly in agreement though not on details. We were broadly sympathetic to Bonhoeffer and the book while recognising Bonhoeffer was chiefly a Barthian rather than anything closer to our own way of thinking. We are going to look at the book that Jeremy Walker has done with Rob Ventura on Paul next time (October 17). 



Herne Bay

We headed off to the seaside last Saturday, to Herne Bay on the Kent coast. We weren't heading for sun and sand, however, so after half an hour looking at the sea we headed to Herne Bay Evangelical Church where my old college friend Keith Hoare was being inducted to the pastorate. Former pastor Patrick Hawes (Hawes, Hoare - could be confusing) led proceedings and Graham Heaps from Keith and Janice's church in Dewsbury read and spoke. I preached from 1 Peter 5:1-3. Keith and his family have been working in France for the last 22 years, mainly among Muslims but also pastoring a church in Marseille. The link with Herne Bay can chiefly be traced back to Ashford (Middlesex not Kent). It was nice to be present and meet various Kent folk, one or two who I know but most not and some missionary organisation types who know Keith. Eleri checked out the Welsh connections. I was sorry not to get a chance to speak to retired church planter Michael Toogood. You usually have to explain where Childs Hill is but one man told me he had gone to school here. Good time

Down to South Wales

Down to South Wales for part of the weekend. The weather was just turning so the sunshine added to it all. We headed off to my sister-in-law and family in Cardiff first and had a lovely time with them. We also visited my wife's cousin and family (where it's half in Welsh and I struggle to keep up) and I was able to visit my dad who'd been taken into hospital with gall stones the day before. He looked quite well by then but morphine is wonderful thing.

The main purpose of our visit was to be in Hill Park Evangelical Baptist Church, Haverford West, for the ordination and induction as evangelist of Ian Middlemist who, after 2 years at LTS was my assistant for seven months last year and this. The fairly elderly church is pastored by Gareth Edwards. They recently sold their original premises that had been used as Sunday School rooms and are using the proceeds mainly to finance Ian for two years. That shows vision.

I preached from Acts 26 and Paul's commission - a good place to turn I felt, though not one I've heard preached from in that context before. See it here. There were about 60 present - church members, local ministers, family, friends, etc. There was a nice tea to follow nearby. I did preach in Hill Park one summer about 5 years ago. I'd forgotten that I had a broken leg at the time - but they all remembered, of course, and were glad to see I'd recovered! Going back to Wales is always slightly strange for me. It's like you know it all (what they haven't changed) yet you don't belong in it. I tend to feel like that anyway so when there's real reason to do so its even stranger.

I'm planning to be back in Cardiff again this week - to see Jan Akkerman who is performing solo and is supported by a young man from Cwmbran (Gareth Pearson) who it turns out is the son of a fellow I was in school with.