Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A silver anniversary

After a lovely weekend with family, we finally arrived just after midnight and fell into bed. Today we evicted the spiders that always take up residence in our absence and have just finished unpacking. Giving thanks for the fact that the weather is dry, if rather cool, I've even made a start on trying to turn the hayfield that greeted us back into something vaguely resembling a lawn. Now we are both tired and ready for bed, but before I go, I can’t let this day end without mentioning that it has a very particular significance for me.

Twenty-five years ago, on Saturday June 25th 1988, I was ordained deacon, together with five others, by the then Bishop of Bangor. For me it was the culmination of a long process of discernment and part-time training, alongside my full-time work as a public librarian, and it was an extraordinarily happy and enjoyable day. It wasn't a historic occasion like my later ordination to the priesthood. Instead it was a family occasion, as our families, friends and church congregations came together to celebrate this new stage in all our lives. 

I have no photos of the ordination service itself, nor any formal posed portraits. What I have is a series of snapshots which I think give a good flavour of the happiness that permeated the crowd outside the cathedral west door after the service.  Twenty-five years on, I’m still profoundly grateful for that day and for the joys and satisfaction of the work it made possible for me. It has been sheer privilege. 

With our two children, who put up with a lot during my training

With my next-to-youngest sister, then and always a great support.

And with my dear Baby Sis. Why do big sisters always have to hold forth?

With DH, without whom I'd never have done any of it.

You've heard of Flying Bishops. Meet the flying deacon....

All the images have been scanned from the hard copy originals of those long-ago pre-digital days.

66 comments:

  1. Glad to know all your travelling went well - and that you've evicted the arachnidae (shiver, shiver...) Just to make you a teensy bit envious - we've had 2 lovely warm days yesterday and today (except that the wind's still a bit brisk!) But the weekend was 'orrible, and we couldn't make it to Friko's Open Garden (although from her blog it wasn't as wet there as here!)
    Weren't you a delightful young thing at your Deacon-ing - but you haven't changed all that much since then. But 25 years - it doesn't seem possible!!
    Have a lovely time en Normandie - looking forward to many lovely pictures from there. Don't work too hard - and look out for those gorgeous cats. Love to you both. J & P

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    1. Should have said 'Happy Anniversary' as well!

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    2. Thanks, Helva. There were actually far fewer spiders than usual, probably an effect of so much cold weather. It was a pleasant day on Monday - good for travelling - and we saw quite a lot of the sun yesterday, but there's a very cool breeze.

      I was a mere girl of 42 in 1988 and the children were still teenagers. Those were the days. :-)

      Mowing the garden doesn't count as work but as healthy exercise and I need plenty of that after this miserable winter and spring. As for the cats, you'll have to wait for my next post.....

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  2. What lovely pictures. Everyone looks so happy and you look positively radiant.
    I do see what you mean about the ready to take off picture.
    Happy 25th Anniversary, and best wishes for the next 25.
    Enjoy your well-earned break in Normandy

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    1. Thanks, Ray. If you could guarantee me another 25 I'd be a very happy woman. :-)

      In my experience there is at least as much joy and fun at an ordination as there is at any wedding and the memories are as strong. The flying deacon shot is a gem. I wish I could capture a moment like that.

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  3. What a great day it obviously was. Happy anniversary !!

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    1. Thanks, Jean. It was a wonderful day which is still vivid in my otherwise failing memory. :-)

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  4. Love the flying deacon! Happy anniversary!

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    1. Thanks, I thought you'd enjoy that one, Penny. :-)

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  5. What a wonderful day it must have been and such a happy one: many more anniversaries!

    I did enjoy you in Harrier jump jet mode!

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    1. A marvellous shot, isn't it? It was a truly memorable day, in fact week, from the pre-ordination retreat to the junketing afterwards and the first time on duty the next day.

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  6. What wonderful pictures of a milestone, Perpetua; a reason to celebrate again and remember the blessings of the day, and of your family. It was a prelude, wasn't it, to that historic ordination?

    I did give a chuckle to your comment "Why do big sisters always have to hold forth?". Sounds a tad like me, and I'm sure my little sis would agree.

    I am also thinking of you there now, celebrating your silver anniversary and of Dee Ready and her reunion, and of all you and others have done as women, women of faith, to make this a better world. I thank you.

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    1. It was indeed, Penny, though I had to wait eight and a half years for the second big day. With your daughter and son-in-law both in the ministry, I know you appreciate completely what a milestone this was and how it changed my life forever.

      I'm always deeply thankful to have lived at a period in time where I could follow my vocation, even if not always easily. The world has lost a great deal over the centuries by stifling the talents of half of humanity.

      Ah, big sisters. I bet my three younger sisters could write a book on the subject. :-)

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  7. What a wonderful day it must have been and you look so very young.

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    1. it truly was, Susan, and I was just a lass of 42. :-) Whoever said that life begins at 40 was absolutely right!

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  8. Congratulations on 25 years, and thankyou for sharing your lovely pictures. You do look radiant, and rightly so, and the flying deacon photo is beautiful in so many ways. 1988 seems so recent to me - but 25 years, well, that is a quarter-century. How time does fly!

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    1. Thanks, Patricia. I so enjoyed going back through my photo albums and selecting the ones for this post and I'm glad you enjoyed them. It was such a happy day. The flying deacon photo was a minor miracle in that there was enough clear space in that crowd for my surplice sleeves to fly out. :-)

      As for time flying, ouch - a quarter-century seems somehow much longer than 25 years. :-)

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  9. Congratulations. What lovely pictures so much more evocative than a formal portrait.

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    1. Thanks, Rosie. I was grateful there weren't any posed photos as I usually look dreadful when I know I'm being photographed. Snapshots are so much better. :-)

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  10. What lovely photographs. Congratulations.

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    1. Thanks, Annie. With family and friends snapping away I have quite a collection.

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  11. The Flying Deacon pic is fabulous...actually, they are all wonderful photos, and much better than any formal ones would have been. It was clearly a gorgeous day for you all. Welcome back to France, I hope you have a great time after your well deserved rest after the journey.
    Jx

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    1. I thinks it's great too, Janice - a shot in a million. It was such a happy day, not only for the new deacons but for everyone. We milled around outside the cathedral for so long they must have thought they would never get rid of us. :-)

      It's lovely to be back in Normandy and the house feels immediately like home. After almost 10 hours sleep last night I'm now ready for anything!

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  12. You're brave - I'm useless with the eight-legged beasties. Until I married, I had to go and get a neighbour to evict any who took up residence in my house - I was careful to marry a man who isn't scared of spiders.

    And when we got married, we decided against an official photographer, instead we bought a few disposable cameras and gave them to the guests, asking them to snap away. The results were wonderful - informal certainly, but they seemed to capture the real essence of the day and are fabulous to look back at.

    Hope the weather picks up for you.

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    1. No, I'm not, Anny, I left the eviction up to DH and got on with the unpacking. :-) I'm getting better about them and don't actually run screaming from the room when I see one, but I could never ever pick one up.

      Well done for dispensing with the official wedding photographer. As someone who has been professionally involved with the species for the past 25 years, I can tell you than most of them were the bane of my life. If I had a pound for every wedding that started late because of the demands of the photographer I'd be a rich woman! When DD got married they did something similar to you in that they asked guests with cameras just to get a second (much discounted) set of prints for them. As you found it worked wonderfully and as the officiating vicar I didn't have to contend with an outsider. :-)

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  13. Happy Anniversary Perpetua! You were ordained deacon a year before me as my 24th anniversary is next Tuesday 2nd July.

    Yes - big sisters do hold forth! I know from experience as I have two of them :-( In my case it's the younger of the two who is the worse!

    As for the picture of the flying deacon, you could never pose it - it is priceless!

    Glad to know you've arrived safely in Normandy - looking forward to your first French post.

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    1. Thanks, Ricky. I must make a mental note of your silver anniversary coming up next year. Sorry to hear that you too suffer from big sister syndrome. How my siblings have never strangled me at my worst I'll never know!

      The flying deacon photo is one of my all-time favourites. One in a million!

      A French post is likely to happen on Friday when the forecast is for rain. Until then I'm making the most of its being dry and reasonably warm to get on with taming the jungle beyond the front door.

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  14. Lovely snapshots and wonderful memories for you. Did you say 42? You look very much younger! Have a lovely time back in France xxx

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    1. Thanks, Ayak. It was a wonderful day and even the little details are still mostly etched in my memory. Yes, I was 42 two months before the big day and was generally thought to look young for my age. Mind you I'm making up for it now and I doubt anyone would take me for younger than 67. :-)

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  15. Really delightful photos, Perpetua - and you certainly look a very young deacon! A lovely post to remember that special time 25 years ago on 25th June. Axxx

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    1. Well, you've heard of child brides, Annie, so perhaps I was a child deacon, so to speak. :-) I've never been one to lie in the sun as I burn too easily, so perhaps that helps the skin stay looking a bit younger. I'm glad you enjoyed the post and the photos. xx

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  16. I enjoyed seeing the pictures! Happy Ordination Anniversary!

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    1. Thanks, Kristie. It was my pleasure to share them. Photos are one of the things I would always keep, however small the house I moved to. :-)

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  17. Happy Anniversary Perpetua. Great photos. Am so looking forward to your posts from Normandy... Would love to see more shots of the cottage!

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    1. Thanks, Rian. Glad you enjoyed them. More shots of the cottage and more posts about Normandy will definitely be coming. As I said to Ricky, I'll be blogging when it rains, but for the moment the garden calls.... :-)

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  18. Hari OM
    So lovely to find your blog here today and that too for such a special occasion. Wonderful, atmospheric piccies too! I can fully appreciate how this must have felt and the memory it holds for you.

    Ah the joy of Summer Insects...buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Hope you have some lovely hazy, lazy dazys! YAM xx

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Yam. It was such a memorably happy day and the beginning of a whole new part of my life. The lovely thing was that everyone seemed to enjoy the day too.

      I love your insect photos - not a spider in sight. :-)

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  19. Happy silver anniversary. What a special lovely day to remember

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    1. Thanks, Molly. It was a day I could never have imagined when I was younger and yet it seemed so natural and right when it came. I just wish my parents had lived long enough to be there too.

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  20. I rejoice with you as I know marking this anniversary means so much to you as well as others. Lovely family photos in which you look so radiant. Hope you're time in Normandy is a peaceful one. We shall be dusting off those cobwebs from the corners of the Italian house and doing much the same as you with the long grass very soon!

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    1. Thanks, Linda, I really appreciate your saying that. It was such a happy day.

      Normandy is looking very peaceful so far and we've settled back here very quickly. So glad to hear that you'll soon be off to your Italian home. Safe journey and happy spider-chasing. :-)

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  21. Dear Perpetua, thank you so much for sharing these photographs of a joyous day and a joyous deacon. From my convent days, I can remember the joy of getting the habit and name, then making first vows, and then final vows. On those days joy was tangible, I felt flooding my pores as if to flow out to all around me. Your joyous face is so lovely in these photographs, whether or not you are "holding forth"!

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Dee, and that they reminded you of your own joyous milestones in the religious life. There are many similarities between the two - a new way of life, a new sense of dedication and service, a new way of relating to others. I think we were both very privileged to experiences these days of joy.

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    2. Dear Perpetua, yes, that is how I feel--that I was privileged to experience such joy. The convent was truly foundational in my whole approach to life and relationships and simply being. Peace.

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  22. Wonderful. Happy anniversary, and thank you for sharing such special and happy memories with us.

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    1. Thanks, DB. It was my privilege, as it was such a special day and the beginning of something life-changing for me.

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  23. Congratulations on a very special anniversary, Perpetua! I loved seeing the pictures of you and your family on such a happy day!

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    1. Thanks, Kathy. It was a very happy day for all of us, myself and my family of course, but also friends and church members who had travelled a long way to be there with me. Very happy memories. :-)

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  24. I loved these photos, Perpetua! I can really see the joy in your expression as you opened a new chapter in your life. I'm sure your children were, and are, incredibly proud of you. I am so glad you shared this very personal glimpse at your life as it transitioned into ministry. I'd love to know a whole lot more, so share any time you can. :-) It sounds like a remarkable journey. Happy Anniversary and I hope you fulfill that very special role for years to come! Debra

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    1. Thanks, Debra. Yes, I think the children were proud, if a bit bemused, at what their mother felt called to do. :-) They were certainly very supportive when I was so busy with my studies and training. It was a very personal, but also a very public day, as ministry is nothing if not public, so it was lovely to share a glimpse of it with you. I'll try to share more at some point, though it isn't always easy to put into words, even for a talkative person like me. :-)

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  25. How absolutely happy and elated you looked Perpetua. It really must have been a great day for you.
    Rather smart in your pastor outfit.
    You have done so much in your life. Thank you for sharing this lovely part of it.
    Happy Anniversary for that day.. It was my birthday yesterday. !
    I am trying hard to get back to the blogging..
    and think i am there.. with valrosa59blogspot.com. vals alentejo + bloglovin.. please join me again.. i miss my blogging..
    best wishes.. val xxx

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    1. Thanks, Val. I was indeed very happy and it was one of the most memorable days of my life. Getting used to clerical robes took a while, but they feel quite normal to me nowadays. :-)

      A belated happy birthday for yesterday. I've been across to your blog and joined as a follower again, so hopefully everything will go smoothly for you now after all your problems.

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  26. Congratulations on your anniversary, Perpetua. You looked radiant in the pictures. Hugs Sue

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    1. Thanks, Sue. I was really very happy that day and it shows. It had been a long road to get to that point and I was so pleased to have made it. :-)

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  27. Congratulations on your anniversary (sorry it's a bit late) - it is such an encouragement to those who come along later to see our fore-sisters (of any tradition) flying so well. Great photos that capture a very special moment.

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    1. Thanks, Catriona. It was in fact your post about your 10th anniversary of ordination that reminded me at a very busy time that my own special anniversary was coming up, so it's you I have to thank for this post. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it.

      You're so right about the encouragement we get from those who went before us. In the Anglican church I think of the pioneers in North America and Australasia and wonder why it took the UK so long to catch up.....

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  28. God bless and many happy returns of the day.
    Have a lovely summer in sunny (?) France.

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    1. Thanks, Friko. i hope I can look back on this happy day fopr a good few years yet. :-)

      Sunny France? Huh! It's been misty and gently raining for the past two days, though we are promised an improvement over the coming week. Fingers crossed.....

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  29. Well done! We must not forget the years of struggle it took you and others - especially you - to get you to that wonderful day! Congratulations.

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    1. Thanks, Althea, and lovely to see you here. :-) Yes, it was a long road to that point and another eight and a half years to reach the culmination of priesthood in January 1997. But all the struggle has been worth it in the joy and satisfaction of the work.

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  30. What wonderfully informal photographs - they capture the joy of the moment so much more than any official posed one. The flying deacon is truly 'onwards and upwards'! I hope you have this on your study wall at least!
    Congratulations from me too.

    Spindrift51

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    1. Glad you enjoyed them. :-) Of course all this happened just before you came to work with us, so you didn't see them at the time, as you did with the ones of my ordination to the priesthood. The nice thing was that it was June, not January, so everyone was happy to mill around outside for ages, which gave lots of opportunity for informal shots. :-) The flying deacon is in the album at the moment, not on the wall, but I might just take up the idea when we get back....

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  31. Hugest congratulations on your 25 years m'dear. Great pics of your special day, you look so happy :D

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    1. Thanks, Annie. I was indeed very happy to reach this milestone on what had been a long path with some very unexpected turns. Life is full of surprises. :-)

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  32. OH:. YIPPEE Perpetua..
    I hope it will stay with me now.!
    sort bloglovin at a later time..
    I did comment about your anniversary.. my sister got married on the same day 25th of june.. and my birthday is the 25th June.. that will be in my agenda..

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    1. Yippee indeed, Val! I'll email you about your blog, but yes, you did comment and mention your birthday, but not the fact that the 25th of June is your sister's wedding anniversary too. A very special day for all of us. :-)

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