HOME About the FCE About the Book of Common Prayer Grace & Justification by Faith The 39 Articles I'd Like to Know More List of Churches Declaration of Principles Around the Churches Russia Personnel Links Ministry Consecration 2006
Once a year, the Bishops and clergy together with the churchwardens and lay delegates from each parish meet, since 2004 at Swanwick Christian Conference Centre in Derbyshire for the annual Convocation of the Free Church of England. Before 2004, Convocation met at the Salvation Army Conference Centre, Sunbury Court, in Sunbury-on-Thames,
Convocation usually starts on a Monday afternoon and finishes on the Thursday afternoon. During this time, a Bishop is elected Primus for the coming year, new Church officers are elected, or existing ones confirmed in office and motions put forward by the Diocesan Synods are debated.
Sunbury Court, 2003. Click on thumbnail to see larger image.
L-to-r: Mrs G. D. Boulton (Emmanuel, Birmingham); the Rev Dr. Sergei Makov (Christ the Saviour, St. Petersburg); the Rev David Boulton (Emmanuel, Birmingham); Mr John Haynes (St. Jude, Walsall); Mr Jack Williams (Lay Reader rtd, Northampton)
It is not all business at Convocation, however. There is Morning and Evening Prayer every day and a service of Holy Communion on the second morning; and there is time for the clergy and delegates to socialise in the evenings and at lunchtime, dinner-time and coffee-breaks.
Convocation meets once a year, but in the meantime, Council, appointed by Convocation, is responsible for decision-making. Council comprises the Bishops, the General Secretary, the Treasurer, the Registrar, the Secretaries and Treasurers of the two Dioceses and a number of Clergy and lay folk from both Dioceses, elected annually at Convocation, under the Chairmanship of the Bishop Primus.. Council has ad interim administrative authority until the next ensuing Annual Convocation.
Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.
|
Convocation business session |
In the dining hall |
In the dining hall |
|
Two Convocation delegates from Christ Church, Harlesden. |
The denominational Webmaster, the Rev David R. Boulton. |
The two newly-elected Bishops, the Rev. Dr John Fenwick and the Rev. Paul Hunt. Paul is currently our General Secretary.
|
|
L-to-r: the Rt Rev. Kenneth Powell (Primus), the Rev. Paul Hunt (Bishop elect), the Rev. Dr John Fenwick (Bishop elect), the Rt Rev. John McLean.
|
In the dining room at the Hayes Conference centre, Swanwick.
|
The Chapel at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick. |
|
In the dining room. |
Delegates from Emmanuel Church, Birmingham. |
L to R: Bishop Kenneth Powell (Primus), Bishops Elect Paul Hunt and John Fenwick, Bishop John McLean. |
Convocation this year was held once again at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire and was well attended with Clergy, Churchwardens and Delegates from many parishes in both dioceses, including the Rev. Dr Sergei Makov, Presbyter in Charge of the Church of Christ the Saviour, St. Petersburg.
The high point of this year's Convocation came with the confirmation of the election by the Northern Diocese of the Rev Dr. John Fenwick to be their new Diocesan Bishop, and the election and confirmation of the Rev. Paul Hunt, Rector of St. Andrew, Bentley, to be Assistant Bishop in the Southern Diocese.
The new Bishops will receive Episcopal Consecration at a service in Christ Church, Wallasey later this year.
The Rt Rev. Kenneth J. W. Powell, Bishop of the Southern Diocese was elected Bishop Primus for another year.
Swanwick 2008. Click on thumbnail to see larger image
