{"id":508,"date":"2019-12-18T12:32:50","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T12:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/?page_id=508"},"modified":"2020-02-26T14:18:59","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:18:59","slug":"vi-150-years-and-counting-1990-to-the-present-day","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/vi-150-years-and-counting-1990-to-the-present-day\/","title":{"rendered":"VI. 150 years and counting: 1990 to the present day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box  gradient-container-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\"  style='background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;'><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row \"><div  class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion_builder_column_1_1 fusion-builder-column-1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last gradient-column-1 1_1\"  style='margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\" style=\"padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;\"   data-bg-url=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fusion-widget-area fusion-widget-area-1 fusion-content-widget-area\"><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-widget-area-1 {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}.fusion-widget-area-1 .widget h4 {color:#333333;}.fusion-widget-area-1 .widget .heading h4 {color:#333333;}<\/style><div id=\"alg_back_button_wp_widget-2\" class=\"widget alg_back_button_wp_widget\"><a href=\"javascript:history.back()\" class=\"alg_back_button_simple \" style=\"\"><< Return to previous section<\/a><\/div><div class=\"fusion-additional-widget-content\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box  gradient-container-2 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\"  style='background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;'><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row \"><div  class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion_builder_column_1_1 fusion-builder-column-2 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last gradient-column-2 1_1\"  style='margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:20px;'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\" style=\"padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;\"   data-bg-url=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" title=\"present-church-header\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-1017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header-200x67.jpg 200w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header-400x133.jpg 400w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header-600x200.jpg 600w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header-800x267.jpg 800w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/present-church-header.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box  gradient-container-3 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\"  style='background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;'><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row \"><div  class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion_builder_column_1_1 fusion-builder-column-3 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last gradient-column-3 1_1\"  style='margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\" style=\"padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;\"   data-bg-url=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fusion-text\"><p>As the end of the millennium approached the Church took stock of both its spiritual and physical resources. New styles of worship were introduced, the Church was served by its first woman priest, and St John\u2019s became one of ten churches in a larger team ministry. An exciting new purpose was found for the former school buildings, and some striking new \u2018stations of the cross\u2019 were installed in the Church.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-margin-for-link\"><input type='hidden' bg_collapse_expand='69dfcbe0dca802077754373' value='69dfcbe0dca802077754373'><input type='hidden' id='bg-show-more-text-69dfcbe0dca802077754373' value='Show More'><input type='hidden' id='bg-show-less-text-69dfcbe0dca802077754373' value='Show Less'><div id='bg-showmore-hidden-69dfcbe0dca802077754373' ><\/p>\n<p><strong>A fresh vision\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_880\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-880\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-880\" src=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pettitt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pettitt-200x266.jpg 200w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pettitt-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pettitt.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-880\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Fr Pettitt.<\/em><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p>In the early 1990s the Church decided to look to the future, both in terms of how it could preserve its premises, and what spiritual vision might guide it.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of the structure, Fr Pettitt summed up the situation by saying that the Church had been aware for some time that they were<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>the guardians of three crumbling Victorian buildings. The Lathbury Institute, which although now is used for a night shelter in the winter months does not fulfil any other purpose and is deteriorating rapidly. The St John\u2019s Centre which although given a bit of a facelift a few years ago needs a considerable amount of work done to it to bring it to the standards demanded today, and of course the church which needs a considerable amount of restoration work, particularly to the spire along with a new heating and lighting system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He was not being pessimistic, however, asserting that \u2018we are at the beginning of a very important and very exciting stage in the life of St John\u2019s.\u2019 Although he spoke only in passing of the Lathbury\u2019s use as a night shelter, this was an example of the Church showing Christian love to a marginalized section of the community. It also showed the Church being prepared to take risks, since those availing themselves of its hospitality could display challenging behaviour, including the use of drugs. The shelter was not established with any evangelistic intent, but some of the homeless people came to the services.<\/p>\n<p>To address the structural issues the Church commissioned a professional feasibility study and fundraising proposal. This recommended the complete restoration of the exterior of the church to make it serviceable for another 150 years, and modifications to the interior \u2018to enable the building to be fully used for religious and cultural purposes\u2019. It also proposed converting the former school into a church hall\/community centre to replace the Lathbury Hall, and linking the church and the centre to provide a social centre for all ages. The cost was estimated to be over a quarter of a million pounds, to which would be added the firm\u2019s not insubstantial fees for advice on fundraising. This amounted to a focus on direct giving rather than small fundraising events.<\/p>\n<p>The Church managed to raise about half of the required amount, and was disappointed that neither the county nor borough council was willing to contribute. The restoration of the Church was carried out, but the more imaginative new schemes were shelved. With the Church no longer having a choir, the choir stalls were removed and the Altar brought forward, a move in harmony with Fr Pettitt\u2019s decision to stand behind it during Mass. This made the Church more suitable for concerts, and it probably has better acoustics than any other building in the town. The Church is now able to accommodate a 40-piece orchestra if required.<\/p>\n<p>To help them \u2018clarify the way ahead\u2019 the Church enlisted the help of a canon at the Cathedral, <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/canon-martin-shaw\/\">Martin Shaw<\/a>. Meeting with the Church in November 1993, Shaw encouraged them to consider what their \u2018experience of the presence of God is now\u2019 rather than plans for the future. Any objectives you may have \u2018are only significant in so far as you value yourselves and each other now\u2019, Shaw advised.<\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_878\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-878\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-878\" src=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/david-underwood.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/david-underwood-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/david-underwood-200x303.jpg 200w, https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/david-underwood.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-878\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fr. Underwood.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p>There was further reflection in 1996 when <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/canon-david-richard-underwood\/\">Fr David Underwood<\/a>, who had replaced Simon Pettitt two years before, asked the PCC to consider the purpose of the worship at St John\u2019s. \u2018Worship is about going out and bringing in, not just a retreat for ourselves\u2019, Underwood told his flock. It was decided to try some changes: the main service of the week, the 10.00 a.m., would start half an hour earlier, and a new non-sacramental family service with modern music would follow. Due to lack of support the 8.00 a.m. would be dropped. The evening service would be varied, with Taiz\u00e9-type worship and healing services alternating with evensong. As a way of reaching out to the neighbourhood, and deepening the faith of the congregation, Fr Underwood considered exploring the Alpha Course, an evangelistic programme created by Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London. This did not materialize.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Facing the issue of women priests<\/strong><br \/>\nSince the mid-1960s the Church had not had a full-time assistant curate or deacon to support the Vicar, but in July 1992 a deacon, <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/revd-anne-haselhurst\/\">Anne Haselhurst<\/a>, was appointed. In the November the Church of England voted in favour of the ordination of women to the priesthood, and when it became known that Mrs Haselhurst was preparing for ordination, the Church had to decide whether it could accept a woman priest. There had been some initial hesitation about this among church members, but many members changed their minds during Mrs Haselhurst\u2019s time as deacon, and when the PCC met with the Archdeacon to say whether they would accept a woman\u2019s priestly ministry, the vote was unanimously in favour. This was by no means a common position among Anglo Catholic churches.<\/p>\n<p>In February 1993 Fr Pettitt left St John\u2019s to become diocesan communications officer. The diocese was in no hurry to replace him, and in the months before Mrs Haselhurst\u2019s ordination to the priesthood in April 1994, services were taken by retired priests. Mrs Haselhurst, however, while still in training, performed most of the other duties, including leading midweek services with reserved sacrament. In the months before Fr Underwood\u2019s appointment late in 1994 she was a priest in the Church<\/p>\n<p><strong>Into the new millennium<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 1998 Fr Underwood became Vicar of St George\u2019s in addition to St John\u2019s. Later the two parishes were joined with All Saints in a team ministry, with <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/canon-gregory-webb\/\">Greg Webb<\/a> as the first Rector. All three churches are now in the Lark Valley and North Bury Team Ministry, covering a total of ten parishes.<\/p>\n<p>The Lathbury Institute was sold in 2000 and converted into a 3-bedroom house and a small courtyard of dwellings. These are known as Lathbury Court. The trustees of the Lathbury Institute and the St John\u2019s Centre now work together, and, following a report in 1999 by Peter Harris, Youth and Community Worker for St John\u2019s and St George\u2019s, entitled A Place for All \u2013 which said the centre was under-used and under-developed \u2013 it began to be hired for a wide variety of activities. Since 1998 it has hosted \u2018Just Traid\u2019, Bury\u2019s only dedicated fair trade shop and caf\u00e9. A major restoration and development project took place at the end of the first decade of the new millennium.<br \/>\nIn 2006, following a national competition, the Church commissioned a set of <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/how-the-building-is-used\/stations-of-the-cross\/\">Stations of the Cross<\/a> from the celebrated religious artist <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/revd-iain-mckillop\/\">Iain McKillop<\/a>. These were dedicated by the Bishop of Dunwich, the <a href=\"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/building-history\/church-people\/rt-revd-clive-young\/\">Rt Revd Clive Young<\/a>, on 2 February 2008. In addition to the traditional fourteen stations McKillop designed as a fifteenth station an altarpiece of the resurrection which is displayed in the Lady Chapel.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><a id='bg-showmore-action-69dfcbe0dca802077754373' class='bg-showmore-plg-link  '  style=\" color:#4a4949;;\" href='#'>Show More<\/a>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":414,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/508"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1591,"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/508\/revisions\/1591"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjohnsburystedmunds.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}