The Reverend Alan Cook with The Right Reverend Andrew Norman
Canadians are changing their minds about taking a vacation in the USA this summer; many are heading to Europe. Canadian Anglicans might like to know that you can still attend an Anglican Church while you’re in continental Europe. In fact, the Anglican Diocese in Europe has over 250 English-speaking congregations in cities and resorts in 30 countries, from Moscow to Morocco, from Iceland to Istanbul.
Last February, I found myself in Canterbury Cathedral, witnessing the consecration of the new Suffragan (assistant) Bishop of Europe, the Right Reverend Andrew Norman, an old friend from university days. When I told people about this trip, many Anglicans reacted with “A diocese in Europe? I didn’t know we had such a thing!” Well, yes, we have, and it’s a wonderful gift of the Church of England to the English-speaking communities over there.
My first encounter with the diocese was back in 1980, when, as a teenager on a gap-year adventure, I cycled from my home in England through Europe. After three weeks of being a ‘foreigner’ and encountering the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic cultures of France, Spain, and Italy, it was a visceral relief to be able to recite Book of Common Prayer Mattins in the Anglican Chapel in Venice and talk in English again! More recently, when visiting my son, who is a professional dancer in Europe, I have worshipped at the chaplaincies in Vienna, Prague, and Palma, Mallorca.
The Reverend Alan Cook and his son William
Not only do I find it spiritually nourishing to worship in English, but it’s a delight to find fellowship with the congregations. Apart from other tourists, you will meet expats who now reside in these places from all around the English-speaking world: retirees, businesspeople, diplomats, and folks who work in international agencies, and their families. They are welcoming, helpful, and encouraging. At the very least, they can tell you a good place to go for lunch!
Of course, the Diocese of Niagara has had strong connections with the Diocese in Europe: Bishop Andrew’s predecessor was the now-retired Right Reverend David Hamid, who served as a priest here from 1980 to 1996. Other Niagara clergy who have served in Europe include Reverend Stephen Murray (Belgium) and Father Haynes Hubbard (Portugal).
Chaplaincies function as a regular parish: they have wardens and parish councils, choirs and organists, Sunday schools and youth groups, altar guilds and outreach committees. Like any parish, the pastoral ministry includes funerals (plenty of English retirees end up in the cemetery in Palma!), weddings (especially marriages of people from different nationalities and faith-traditions), and baptisms – both of the offspring of ex-pats and converts to Anglican Christianity. Bible study, Alpha, prayer, and fellowship groups abound to fill out what is often a vibrant parish life.
Chaplaincies can also be a place of pastoral support when trouble arises. Father Haynes hit the headlines when, in 2009, 4-year-old Maddie McCann, the daughter of an English couple on holiday in the Portuguese resort town where he was the chaplain, disappeared while the parents were briefly out of their room. The congregation and Father Haynes continue to support the McCanns all these years later.
Bishop Andrew is particularly committed to mission and evangelism: while chaplains are keen not to be ‘sheep-stealers’ from local congregations, chaplaincies can really help spiritual seekers who want to search outside the dominant local religious (or atheistic) culture. So, too, with English-speakers who are exploring Christianity whilst living abroad.
Finally, not only can Chaplaincies help meet your spiritual needs, you can also encourage ‘the locals’: for a fleeting moment, we as visitors bring our own gifts to the congregation and build up the bonds of affection across the Anglican Communion.
Anglicans Abroad? Check out a Chaplaincy!
Canadians are changing their minds about taking a vacation in the USA this summer; many are heading to Europe. Canadian Anglicans might like to know that you can still attend an Anglican Church while you’re in continental Europe. In fact, the Anglican Diocese in Europe has over 250 English-speaking congregations in cities and resorts in 30 countries, from Moscow to Morocco, from Iceland to Istanbul.
Last February, I found myself in Canterbury Cathedral, witnessing the consecration of the new Suffragan (assistant) Bishop of Europe, the Right Reverend Andrew Norman, an old friend from university days. When I told people about this trip, many Anglicans reacted with “A diocese in Europe? I didn’t know we had such a thing!” Well, yes, we have, and it’s a wonderful gift of the Church of England to the English-speaking communities over there.
My first encounter with the diocese was back in 1980, when, as a teenager on a gap-year adventure, I cycled from my home in England through Europe. After three weeks of being a ‘foreigner’ and encountering the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic cultures of France, Spain, and Italy, it was a visceral relief to be able to recite Book of Common Prayer Mattins in the Anglican Chapel in Venice and talk in English again! More recently, when visiting my son, who is a professional dancer in Europe, I have worshipped at the chaplaincies in Vienna, Prague, and Palma, Mallorca.
Not only do I find it spiritually nourishing to worship in English, but it’s a delight to find fellowship with the congregations. Apart from other tourists, you will meet expats who now reside in these places from all around the English-speaking world: retirees, businesspeople, diplomats, and folks who work in international agencies, and their families. They are welcoming, helpful, and encouraging. At the very least, they can tell you a good place to go for lunch!
Of course, the Diocese of Niagara has had strong connections with the Diocese in Europe: Bishop Andrew’s predecessor was the now-retired Right Reverend David Hamid, who served as a priest here from 1980 to 1996. Other Niagara clergy who have served in Europe include Reverend Stephen Murray (Belgium) and Father Haynes Hubbard (Portugal).
Chaplaincies function as a regular parish: they have wardens and parish councils, choirs and organists, Sunday schools and youth groups, altar guilds and outreach committees. Like any parish, the pastoral ministry includes funerals (plenty of English retirees end up in the cemetery in Palma!), weddings (especially marriages of people from different nationalities and faith-traditions), and baptisms – both of the offspring of ex-pats and converts to Anglican Christianity. Bible study, Alpha, prayer, and fellowship groups abound to fill out what is often a vibrant parish life.
Chaplaincies can also be a place of pastoral support when trouble arises. Father Haynes hit the headlines when, in 2009, 4-year-old Maddie McCann, the daughter of an English couple on holiday in the Portuguese resort town where he was the chaplain, disappeared while the parents were briefly out of their room. The congregation and Father Haynes continue to support the McCanns all these years later.
Bishop Andrew is particularly committed to mission and evangelism: while chaplains are keen not to be ‘sheep-stealers’ from local congregations, chaplaincies can really help spiritual seekers who want to search outside the dominant local religious (or atheistic) culture. So, too, with English-speakers who are exploring Christianity whilst living abroad.
Finally, not only can Chaplaincies help meet your spiritual needs, you can also encourage ‘the locals’: for a fleeting moment, we as visitors bring our own gifts to the congregation and build up the bonds of affection across the Anglican Communion.
Anglicans abroad? Check out a Chaplaincy by visiting: europe.anglican.org
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