What do you expect a vicar to be?

Most people I meet are surprised when I tell them I'm a vicar. That makes me smile.

So what is the surprise?

I do the normal 'vicar' stuff. I pray, lead services and preach from the Bible I find ways to let people know that there is a God who loves them. I even own robes.

I am a woman, but lots of vicars are these days.

Is the surprise that I have 4 noisy, happy children aged 13 down to 6, or that I have a (v. handsome) husband who does not work in the church but is very content as a lawyer?

Could it be that I put on my shin pads and boots to play football on Wandsworth Common a couple of times a week with a group of women who just love tearing about in all weathers?

Maybe it's that you've seen me before? We've lived in SW11 almost 20 years. We got married here. Our children are in the local schools. I do my shopping, visit the library, see the doctor, all in and around the Northcote Road. I'm a local. Just like you.

Perhaps that's the surprise. I'm much more like you than you realise.

And like most of you I have a huge affection for this area and the people here. I'm passionate about it and I hope that St Michael's will be a church for everyone who lives, works, learns and plays in the neighbourhood. It is [i]our[/i] parish church so please get in touch; tell me your stories, your ideas, your hopes for this area. You, just like ALL of us, have something important to contribute ... and I would love to hear it.

Blessings!
Tif

Hi there,

Thank you for your very helpful insights. I think you are saying what a number of people feel. Please keep your eyes out for news of new services especially aimed at children and families coming soon. I need a team to help me get them going - do you fancy getting involved?

Please come and say hi some time - current Sunday services are at 10am if you fancy joining us

Blessings,
Tif

[quote="firsttimerSW11"]I'd love to see family services with music, be it a childrens choir or one which sings child friendly carols etc. That would probably draw in a few people (including myself and family)[/quote]

Hi Papagena,

Thank you for your post and your ideas. I love the adopt an older person thought. The day centre is a wonderful asset to the community and to connect people better to one another, regardless of age or any other barriers, is a key value in Christian life. Please come and say hi anytime you can.

Blessings!
Tif

[quote="papagena"]Congratulations Tif!

Thoughts on your email...

St Michael's feels a bit like the forgotten church - it comes to life when packed with local schools for concerts and nativities, but its presence is not currently felt in the community.
Given the extraordinary numbers of families with children in the area, over and above gearing future services to families and their Sunday schedules, it would be great if there were more events/activities co-ordinated by the church that knitted our community together even more. Not necessarily overtly religious in theme, but things that bring us together to do good things, learn, make friends and give back.

There are a lot of people in the area whose parents/grandparents live away from here - whilst there are also a lot of elderly people in our area living alone. Could we initiate some kind of scheme where we can 'adopt' a granny/grandpa - visiting/shopping/looking out for old, needy people in our community? Perhaps starting with the Day Centre at the church?

Could the choir be something to focus on - it would be great to have more music opportunities in the Parish?

Best of luck in your new post.[/quote]

I'd love to see family services with music, be it a childrens choir or one which sings child friendly carols etc. That would probably draw in a few people (including myself and family)

Congratulations Tif!

Thoughts on your email...

St Michael's feels a bit like the forgotten church - it comes to life when packed with local schools for concerts and nativities, but its presence is not currently felt in the community.
Given the extraordinary numbers of families with children in the area, over and above gearing future services to families and their Sunday schedules, it would be great if there were more events/activities co-ordinated by the church that knitted our community together even more. Not necessarily overtly religious in theme, but things that bring us together to do good things, learn, make friends and give back.

There are a lot of people in the area whose parents/grandparents live away from here - whilst there are also a lot of elderly people in our area living alone. Could we initiate some kind of scheme where we can 'adopt' a granny/grandpa - visiting/shopping/looking out for old, needy people in our community? Perhaps starting with the Day Centre at the church?

Could the choir be something to focus on - it would be great to have more music opportunities in the Parish?

Best of luck in your new post.

Thanks for your reply and for raising the library project. I will be going to the consultation and listening hard to what is being proposed. Thanks for reminding me

Tif

Dear Vicar Tif,

Welcome to our Community! We are delighted to hear that you are the new vicar of St.Michael's Church. I am not a regular there but no from a personal view, I would like to see a church with a creche and more family services so that is very important to us.

I wondered if you were interested in an issue that is greatly affecting our local area at the moment. Wandsworth Council are proposing to re-build the library (smaller and with flats above it) over the site of what is now Alphabet nursery playground. The nursery will have no where to go and we want to stop this from happening. It is only at feasibility stage at the moment but obviously the Council will then submit planning to themselves so it is very important we put a stop to this now.

It will affect St. Michaels Church because all the building lorries and cement mixing lorries and cranes will be accessing the site via Bollingbroke Grove and past the St. Michael's Day Centre, Noah's Arc Nursery and Little Learners which won't be good at all. The noise, dust and dangerous lorries etc.

We have a petition go to Change.org and search for 'Save Chatham Hall'. Would you be able to help us with this campaign?

If you email us at savechathamhall@gmail.com we can then give you more details etc! There is a Public Consultation at Northcote Library on Weds 22 Feb at 5pm-8pm and the local press will be starting to cover this so we need as many names and publicity as possible as advised by Councillor Fleur Anderson at the Council who after hearing our story has expressed doubt herself in the proposals.

Again, congratulations on your new posting.

Dear Vicar Tif,

Welcome to our Community! We are delighted to hear that you are the new vicar of St.Michael's Church. I am not a regular there but no from a personal view, I would like to see a church with a creche and more family services so that is very important to us.

I wondered if you were interested in an issue that is greatly affecting our local area at the moment. Wandsworth Council are proposing to re-build the library (smaller and with flats above it) over the site of what is now Alphabet nursery playground. The nursery will have no where to go and we want to stop this from happening. It is only at feasibility stage at the moment but obviously the Council will then submit planning to themselves so it is very important we put a stop to this now.

It will affect St. Michaels Church because all the building lorries and cement mixing lorries and cranes will be accessing the site via Bollingbroke Grove and past the St. Michael's Day Centre, Noah's Arc Nursery and Little Learners which won't be good at all. The noise, dust and dangerous lorries etc.

We have a petition go to Change.org and search for 'Save Chatham Hall'. Would you be able to help us with this campaign?

If you email us at savechathamhall@gmail.com we can then give you more details etc! There is a Public Consultation at Northcote Library on Weds 22 Feb at 5pm-8pm and the local press will be starting to cover this so we need as many names and publicity as possible as advised by Councillor Fleur Anderson at the Council who after hearing our story has expressed doubt herself in the proposals.

Again, congratulations on your new posting.

Hi All,

I need your insights.

After half term I am going to be made the new "Vicar of the Northcote Road," (More accurately Priest in Charge of St Michael's Battersea on Cobham Close, but let's not quibble.) The amazing thing is that we are the local parish church for half the Common, the Chivalry Road and Lady Allen playgrounds, Broomwood Road, Webbs Road and Northcote Road including all the homes, schools, nurseries, services, businesses and people that live work, learn and play here.

So to help me get a steer for the future, could you tell me in a few words:
What are your thoughts about St Michael's church now?
What would you like to see from St Michael's church?
How do you think St Michael's and the community could grow closer links?
Anything else?

Many thanks all, and have a good half term!
Tif Ewins