May 2022 by Robert Turtle
A wonderful enabling High-Anglican Family Church.When we first joined Anthony Lury was the priest. He encouraged us to go on a CURSILLO course as it is beautiful, enveloped by prayer, challenging, ultimately can transform your life. We were both part of Oxford 1, and while living in the Oxford diocese, frequent and willing contributors to CURSILLO weekends and 4th day.The church carried on, singing the Psalms, good Choir which I (husband) sang in. They supported my wife's calling into Ministry, first as Lay Reader, then to Priesthood through St Mellitus.A female curate brought in Godly Play, which we both were involved with before I went back to the choir. As soon as she saw excitement in the other she would say "you seem to have a passion for this, why don't you take it on?". Which my wife duly did, being rather amused that the previous more bapist charasmatic church we were at she could only work with children and she definitely didn't want to do that!Sadly there were some negative actors behind the scenes that made it very difficult for the curate, presumably Anthony as well. They both left and I found myself chairing a small (6) people committee in charge of writing the Church Vision in the Parish Profile. Emotions ran high as each of us drew out what our experiences were, and what we felt about it. In a few months though we had it written and confirmed by the PCC.The "new" priest Revd. Dr. Hannah continues to report to the AGM using those same titles. He continues his research in ancient languages and scripts, yet however academic he gets in himself, the more open, simple, powerful he gets with others, in, considering, and outside the church.If any of that "High-Anglican Family Church" rings a desire within yourself, All Saints Ascot Heath is worth travelling to.Robert Turtle
