Our new Vision Enabler, the Rev Phil Dunning and Team Rector the Rev Chi Okpala have set out clear objectives for the next 12 months and further ahead.

The Rev Phil Dunning

In this month’s SEP Newsletter Phil and Chi explain why they are not only focussing on work with children and young families but also aiming to increase visits to the elderly. It follows on from Phil’s sermon at the joint SEP service at Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn, at the end of December where he outlined the work the Partnership has to do to attract younger people to faith.

There’s news of our services around the Partnership as we look to the new year with renewed optimism and hope now our two recently appointed ministers have settled into their roles.

You can download the newsletter here.

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.