Time To Say Goodbye to Billericay

UPDATE 19 AUGUST 2023 My starting date in Paphos will be 20 January 2024.  My last Sunday at Emmanuel will be in November 2023. 

THANK YOU So much for the many kind messages after my announcement on Sunday 30 July 2023.  I feel quite overwhelmed by the kind words people have had to say. Please excuse me if I don’t get back to you personally – there have been over 1600 views on my website and I received 100’s of messages.

This was announced on Sunday 30 July: Archbishop Hosam Noaum (Archbishop of Jerusalem and acting Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf) and the churchwardens of the Anglican Church in Paphos, are pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Paul Carr as Parish Priest of Paphos.  

The role of Team Rector of the Billericay & Little Burstead Team Ministry is never a permanent one and, at some point, especially after 15+ years, there will come a time for me to leave. Paula and I have thought for a number of years that a post overseas would be an interesting next move – I could never imagine taking up another parish here in the UK.

We first looked into the possibility of serving abroad back in January 2020 when I applied for, and was offered, the role of Dean of All Saints Cathedral in Cairo – through the Intercontinental Church Society. Unfortunately, the pandemic prevented that appointment from going ahead.

At the end of May, I responded to an advert in the Church Times for the role of Parish Priest of Paphos in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. I was interviewed on Zoom mid-June and then invited to visit the parish, which Paula and I did a couple of weeks ago. Subsequent to that visit, I was formally offered the post and I have accepted the offer. We had a wonderful time on our visit, met some great people and we could definitely see ourselves living and serving there.

I will be following in the footsteps of Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus on Paul’s First Missionary Journey, which you can read about in Acts 13. The Anglican Church of Paphos has three churches which serve the ‘ex-pat’ community: Saint Luke’s in Prodromi, Saint Stephens in Tala and Ayia Kyriaki in Kato Paphos, a Greek Orthodox Church, which the Anglican’s share, which was first built in 365 AD on a site known as ‘Saint Paul’s Pillar’ – where Paul is said to have been whipped because of his faith. Though not recorded in Acts, it’s part of the history surrounding Paul in Cyprus.FacebookThe churches have a thriving wedding ministry as well as renewal of wedding vows – so if you were to come over to Paphos I could be the officiant!

This won’t be an ‘easy job’ in the sun but will provide an attractive challenge and an exciting adventure for Paula and myself in a very different ministerial setting, but one I’m ready for at this stage in my life and ministry. Admittedly, an all-year climate and a Mediterranean diet does have its attractions!

Of course, there’s never a right time to ‘move on’ in pastoral ministry. There will always be unfinished business and future plans to be made. It won’t be without a huge amount of sadness for us as a family that we will be leaving behind many friends and colleagues here in the Billericay & Little Burstead Team Ministry as well as the Chelmsford Diocese after 23 years.

It’s been a great privilege for me to have been the Team Rector over the past 15 years and we’ve enjoyed some wonderful times in the parish and in the community – though it’s not been without its challenges. I’ve been in post at Emmanuel for the 18th, 21st, 25th and 30th anniversaries of this incredible building.  That must be a record for any priest/pastor in any church in the UK.

We’ve shared some amazing experiences together both individually and as a church family. I’ve baptised your children – and many of you! I’ve married some of you and I’ve taken the funerals of your loved ones. We’ve laughed together and we’ve wept together. We’ve supported each other through the challenges of COVID and lockdown and much, much more. And don’t forget Emmanuel was the first church in the UK to become a Vaccination Centre!

I’ve no doubt my being entrusted with such a key post as Paphos, is very much to do with the way you have supported my ministry. And so, if there is any consolation, be encouraged at the significant part that you have played in my appointment.

Of course, we’ll miss the Rectory – it’s been a fabulous family home. I’ll also miss being involved in the wider community – especially through my music! Revpacman promotions has put Billericay on the musical map with some amazing artists playing at Emmanuel and Saint Mary’s as well as my famous ‘Gigs in the Garden’ alongside our Rectory house gigs! I’ve made some great friends along the way – both musicians and music lovers. I will miss them too.

Paperwork for a post in Europe, especially as a result of Brexit, is proving quite problematic and it’s difficult to give an exact timescale as to when I would leave Billericay. However, a provisional starting date is January 2024 which would mean my ministry here will come to an end later in the year. A more exact date will be given nearer the time.

This early announcement is to prepare everyone for my departure and to give you, and the Diocese, plenty of time to begin the process of praying for, and appointing, my successor. I’ve already spoken with Mike Power, the Archdeacon of Southend, who will arrange a pre-Section 11 meeting with the PCC in the autumn.

There are some fantastic people here, who care deeply about Emmanuel and the team churches, which should ensure, in the shorter term, an effective ministry during an interregnum. In the longer term, a new Team Rector will bring new vision, new skills and new insights to Emmanuel, and the parish, in ways which I would never be able to do.

Paula, Benjamin, Annabel, Beth and Dylan and I want to say a sincere thank you to all of you for your continued prayers, support and encouragement during our time here. We’ve valued them enormously and will, as the week’s progress, be able to offer our thanks to you individually. I hope to keep in touch with many of you, and you will all continue to be in my prayers as I hope we will be in yours.

I’m not going to say much more at the moment, as I’m sure, for many of you, this news will have come as a bit of a shock – they’ll be plenty of time to talk in the weeks to come.

With every blessing in Jesus’ precious name

Paul

A PRAYER FOR THE PARISH
Loving God, as we plan for Paul’s leaving, we thank you for your everlasting faithfulness to us. At this time of uncertainty and change we ask that you send us your Holy Spirit, to fill us with your vision, energy, and faithfulness in prayer. We ask that you will help us to share responsibility, grow in faith, love one another, care for those in need and have courage to face our future and embrace the unknown, with praise in our hearts, in loving obedience to you. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Announcement – 30 July 2023

A new priest for Paphos

These are some very generous words from Martin Neal in the 23 August 2023 edition of the Billericay & Wickford Gazette.

Gazette 23 Aug 2023