The Bishop of Beverley

Society of S Wilfrid and S Hilda

Those at the recent Northern Sacred Synod will have heard something about the newly formed Society of S Wilfrid and S Hilda.

The Society has been brought into being in order to provide a focus for those who still hope it will prove possible to remain members of the Church of England while holding faithfully to the view that the Church of England cannot of itself change the nature of the threefold order of ministry that served the undivided church of the first millennium. The specific details will be put together by a group in the near future but it was thought helpful to give folk the opportunity to sign up to the concept at this stage and to know that this initiative is happening at the present time when some are feeling anxious and considering their options.

I would hope that the Society might, even at this late stage, be recognised as the proper provision for those within the Church of England who share our viewpoint and so is entrusted with the appropriate jurisdiction to fulfil that task. There is little doubt that this will be hard to achieve at such a late stage when so many other helpful initiatives have already been rebuffed by the General Synod, but it seems right to try.

A large groundswell of folk indicating both their need for such provision and their support of the Society will be significant. If you feel able, and have not already done so, I hope you will sign up personally and also encourage your people to enrol in large numbers.

Membership forms may be found at www.sswsh.com/SSWSH-app.pdf and you can download and print forms as required. People may also register online and find further information at www.sswsh.com

† Martyn Beverley