Page 10 - link magazine

10 The Link Magazine • September 200 5
New Bishop hits the ground running
to reconnect people with the church

The new Bishop of Swindon the Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield has been very busy since his inauguration at St Paul's Cathedral in June. Apart from
setting up home in Old Town and preparing for the arrival of his family. he's been rushing around meeting church congregations in the Swindon
area, visiting schools, community groups and discovering more about the town from civic and business leaders. However he made time to talk
to Susan White.
I approach Mark House with a In July Bishop Lee preached this
mixture of nervousness and curi- message at St Mary's Church in
osity. I am about to meet my first Lydiard Park after the 'Park It'
bishop and I've been told he's a Celebration. "I spoke about the
bit of a fitness fanatic. I wonder, importance of the Sabbath rest. Life
will he be wearing a robe, or train- is busy for everybody and the
ers ... or both? Church shouldn't be offering an-
The secretary leads me through other model of the same. Like Je-
the main office, apologising for the sus we all need to have less on our
disorder; a computer engineer is plate at times. Christians need to
working at a terminal. The office is have a pace of life that is fulfilled
still being set up but Dr Rayfield but not full of hurry."
has wasted no time. Since his ap- At the end of our interview,
pointment on 8 June, he has been Bishop Lee makes time for a mo-
camping out on a sofa bed and ment of quietness and prayer. As I
working before the family moves Bishop Lee with Hreod Parkway School Year 11 leavers and lieadteachers Andrew leave, the next visitor arrives. A
from Maidenhead. Fleet when he attended the Key Stage 2 presentation evening on 30 June busy afternoon lies ahead before
The Bishop's office is bright and donning training kit to compete in
modern, not a robe, pointed hat or A scientist by training, Dr the fictional superheroes ends. an 800 metre race. The new Bishop
'dog collar' in sight. I set aside my Rayfield's last secular post was Bishop Lee is determined to keep of Swindon certainly practises
preconceptions as Dr Rayfield im- lecturer in Immunology before people's expectations of him in what he preaches.
mediately puts me at my ease, training as a vicar in 1991. Wife, perspective - and his own too. "I • What about the religious bits?
apologising for the old chair (the Liz, a learning support assistant, have a notice in my office and it Next month Bishop Lee explains
new ones haven't arrived), and ex- didn't want to be married to a vicar says 'There is a Redeemer, and it's his missionary role and his views
presses his concern that it might either: "We've had to work through not me!' It's better to do a few on controversial issues such as
collapse. Sitting down, gingerly, I that," he added. things but do them well. I want to women bishops and whether sci-
have my first impression of Swin- They have three children, Matt live out my call and help others do ence has disproved the Bible.
don's new bishop. 21, Simon 18 and Louise 14. His the same."
At 49, Lee Rayfield doesn't look latest church posts included being
his age. "I'm wearing well!," he a vicar, chaplain and Area Dean - Two lunch clubs in need of help
smiles but is quick to add: "we all at the same time.
ordained new clergy last week and Bishop Lee both works hard and Toothill Lunch Club has 62 people on p -
half of them were younger than plays hard. He now trains with its books and needs more volunteers to
me. I'm happy when I start to feel Swindon Harriers athletics club assist with serving meals at Toothill
old." and, with two of his children, com- Community Centre on Wednesdays.
Bishop Lee is one of the new petes in track events. He enjoys To help call Annette Kennedy on
'missionary bishops,' with a brief playing tennis, football, golf and, 614492.
to help people reconnect with the with Liz, watching rugby union. At Freshbrook Lunch Club volun-
Church of England, a role he is Somehow, he also finds time to teer organisers are in desperate need of
passionate about "people want a watch films and make cider. somebody to drive the Dial-A-Ride
bishop they can relate to, who un- Dr Rayfield is Swindon's sec- minibus to collect club members from
derstands them someone who's ond bishop (the first was appointed around West Swindon to attend on
in touch." in 1994), a 'suffragan' or partner Mondays. The person must be aged 25
He never anticipated becoming for Bishop Mike Hill, based in Bris- to 70, have a clean licence, and be avail-
a bishop at all. "I didn't even want tol. He jokingly attempts to de- able between 9.30am and 2.30pm. Lome and join us pail 'oltnilcers
to be a vicar, and no-one expected scribe their respective roles, "he's Volunteers to prepare and serve lunch at Toothill Community Centre
me to. I just had a very strong call Batman and I'm Robin." are also required. For details call Lor- Chris Bryant, Marie Score,
to leave what I was doing." But there the comparison with raine Webb on 871017. Maureen Humphries

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