10 September, and we finally got our man! On a quintessential English summer’s evening, the church was full, to witness the licensing of the Revd David Westly Busk as the 81st priest responsible for the parish of Godmanchester. As befits such an occasion on the Sabbath, the church was in its Sunday best – white carnations crowning the pew pedestals inside, while outside the tower and spire sparkled in the late summer sunshine. Even the churchyard, little more than scorched earth a month ago, resembled a freshly ironed billiard table in places. The grass cutters and the weathermen had done their best and it all came right on the night. And what better way to start proceedings than with full organ, augmented church choir and 300 voices in the congregation joining together for that great processional hymn Come down, O love divine. It was spine-tingling stuff.
The licensing service, medieval in parts, and reflected as such in some of the language, follows a number of key sections, and the Bishop of Huntingdon, the Rt Revd Dr John Inge talked us through these at the outset. One always feels with Bishop John that he wants us to know exactly what is going on.
The first section was a ‘Commendation’ from Rachel Parry, the Asia and Oceania Personnel Officer for USPG, who spoke about David’s work in Japan. Then came the ‘Presentation and Declaration’. Here David was presented to the parish by our Patron, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey, represented on this occasion by the Revd Dr Jane Hedges, Canon of Westminster. Afterwards David made his own ‘Declaration of Assent’ i.e. he affirmed his belief in the Christian faith and the scriptures, he paid allegiance to the Queen and her successors; and he swore his obedience to the Bishop of Ely. This done, the Licensing itself took place. Bishop John read the Deed of Licensing, then delivered it to David with the words: ‘Receive the cure of souls, which is both yours and mine’. Despite the rather archaic language (we were warned), this is one of the most poignant parts of the service. A sole priest kneeling before a towering bishop, mitre and crook in place, to receive a personal blessing evokes all sorts of emotions. For us in the congregation, this special moment was first captured, and then sustained, as the church choir sang – quite beautifully – Psalm 84, O how amiable are thy dwellings.
Music played an important part in the service. There were two contributions from John Rutter – A Gaelic blessing sung by the church choir, and The Lord bless you and keep you, skilfully performed by the choir of St Anne’s School. In a breathtaking performance, Albert Hay Malotte’s powerful setting of the Lord’s Prayer was sung by Lowri-ann Jacobsen, our regular soloist at the Grassroots services; and the hymns, chosen carefully for their appropriate words, gave members of the congregation opportunities to participate to the full.
The Licensing over, the focus switched to the Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, the Venerable Hugh McCurdy, who guided David to his usual stall. From here, David was urged to ‘admonish the careless, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak’ and to be both patient and joyful.. Admonish the careless? Not good news for those wretched souls among us who occasionally forget committee meetings or can’t remember where they last put down the church hall keys...
During the Welcome, the Lay Chairman of the Deanery, Richard Turpin, and representatives of the community came forward to shake David’s hand and to say a few words of greeting, and this produced some nice touches. Adrian Woodbridge, Jo Fisher and Jim Taylor, representatives of the Baptist Church, the Society of Friends and the Salvation Army respectively, and our close friends from Churches Together, were all present to welcome the new man into the team; Benjamin Brien and Katie Hodge (Community School) and Elizabeth Back and Ross Salisbury (St Anne’s) stepped up to represent their teachers and fellow pupils, and spoke quite beautifully; the Revd Jonathan Young, in lighter mood, and representing the vacant post of Rural Dean, reminded David that, his holiday now over, there were deanery meetings to attend, and produced some diary dates for him! A smiling Jean Morgan stepped out of the choir to greet David on behalf of the Godmanchester Community Association, and Malcolm Cohen, the Deputy Mayor, welcomed David on behalf of the Town Council. But no welcome was warmer than that from our own wardens, during which Penny also read a prayer. The moment was not lost on us that, as one journey was beginning another was about to end. If David and Penny felt relief to be on the finishing line, it didn’t show.
Another moment to smile arrived during the sermon, in which Bishop John had taken advantage of our Patronal Festival to preach on the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the example she sets us in listening and accepting. Listening? At one point he left his prepared text to enter into an impromptu dialogue with the youngest member of the congregation – David and Yoko’s 18 month old daughter Karin, who was announcing in her own way that she’d had enough and really didn’t want to be here at all. Bishop John acknowledged the problem, apologised – and then carried on preaching! In keeping with the trend among young protesters these days, Karin got up and left the building. Assisted, of course.
The last section of the service focused on the responsibilities that the priest and people share together, and here we witnessed four processions, to the font, the pulpit, the sanctuary and the chancel steps. At each station prayers were said and promises made, reminding us that we are all members of God’s family. Finally the congregation joined together for that rousing modern hymn Tell out, my soul, Bishop John gave us God’s blessing, and the choir and clergy recessed. It was all over.
Refreshments in the church hall followed, splendidly set out by Val Pithey and her team; and the Bishop, the Archdeacon and David Busk all spoke briefly. To thunderous applause, Ally was again thanked for all she has done for us.
Coming just 24 hours after the Last Night of the Proms, it was a great weekend for those of us that like a good sing! And there was more pomp and circumstance to follow with the Civic Service scheduled for David’s first full Sunday the following week. He must have thought we’d thrown him in at the deep end – perhaps we had. With so many well-wishers praying for good luck and Godspeed, taking on a new parish has much in common with launching a new ship. How well David copes with the pitching and rolling – and some mill ponds, we trust! – of parish life only time will tell. But we wish him, and Yoko and the children, a safe journey, reassuring David that until he finds his sea legs, he won’t be without support. If an ecclesiastical equivalent of the RNLI exists, our wardens and ministry team are sure to be fully paid-up members.
Peter Irving