Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn, will be the setting for a Partnership wide service on December 29.

Our six churches across the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership will join together for one service together at Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn on Sunday December 29 at 11am. There will not be any service in the other churches on that day.

Then there will be a Milton Keynes wide Local Ecumenical Partnership service on Tuesday evening, Tuesday 21st January 2025, at St Augustine’s in Heelands, to celebrate Christian Unity Week with Churches Together.

Team Rector the Rev Canon Chi Okpala looks ahead to our Christmas activities in this month’s SEP newsletter which can be downloaded here.

A new Bishop of Buckingham has been appointed with the Rev Canon David Bull taking over the position following the untimely death of Bishop Alan Wilson.

The Rev Canon Dave Bull is the new Bishop of Buckingham.

Dave’s nomination was approved by King Charles. He is currently the Team Rector of Great Marlow with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham, in south Buckinghamshire.

Dave was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St. Mary’s Reigate, in the Diocese of Southwark, and was ordained priest in 2009.

In 2012, Dave took up his current role as Team Rector and was additionally appointed Area Dean of Wycombe in 2016.

The Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, told the Church Times: “I have had the opportunity to observe his strong faith at work in that community in recent years. He is a proven strategic leader, beloved by his congregations. Dave engages deeply with all forms of theological tradition and will be building on the firmest of foundations as he becomes Bishop.”

His predecessor, Dr Alan Wilson, served for two decades. He died suddenly in February, a year before his planned retirement.

Our new Team Rector and Vision Enabler the Rev Chi Okpala and the Rev Phil Dunning have now led services in most of our churches since their appointments several weeks ago.

The Rev Chi Okpala

Chi reflects on their first impressions in the November Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership newsletter. He said: “I have been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm many of you have shown, even as we consider some necessary changes in our life as a community, particularly the proposed adjustments to service times.

“I understand that this has sparked mixed feelings for some, and I want to assure you that I hear your concerns. I truly believe that, in time, as we continue to worship together, God will guide us in ways that allow every congregation to flourish.”

For full details of Chi’s comments please download the newsletter here.