New beginning for the Anglican Church in Spain
ON Sunday, September 20, Bishop Carlos López Lozano of the Anglican Church in Spain visited the south of the Costa Blanca to inaugurate two of our local churches into the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church. The new parish of the Anglican Parish of Churches in the Community, consists of San Fulgencio and Campoverde churches. This is a major expansion of the Anglican Church in Spain and offers local people the opportunity for Anglican worship within a modern, vibrant and welcoming environment.
In the morning Bishop Carlos visited San Fulgencio church, where, in the presence of around 50 members of the congregation, he officially licensed Rev Terry Baxter and Rev Richard DunstanMeadows as our parish priests. He also licensed several members of the congregation as lay readers and assistant lay readers.
In the afternoon, Bishop Carlos visited Campoverde for the service held in the beautiful church garden. Again, he was accompanied by Rev Terry and various other members of the Anglican Church in Spain. There, in the presence of around 55 members of the congregation, the Bishop officially licensed six members to become assistant lay readers. Campoverde Church was also pleased to welcome the mayor of Pilar de la Horadada, José María Pérez Sánchez to this historic occasion.
Both services were joyful and everyone present felt that our churches, our congregations and our communities had been blessed and that we were at the start of something very special.
The Bishop said: “As Christians, we have a duty to spread God’s love and peace in our churches and in our communities.”
We are resolved to do so and anyone and everyone will be welcome to come and join us.
Bishop Carlos will also be formally welcoming St Teresa’s at La Manga church into the Anglican Church in Spain on Sunday, September 27 at 18.00.
Because the anticipated numbers of people attending cannot be safely accommodated in St Teresa’s church, the congregation is very grateful to the Owners’ Club, who have invited them to hold this very special occasion in the Owners’ Clubhouse.
Minister, Rev Andrew Rea and Bishop Carlos López Lozano will conduct a service of Holy Communion to include readings from the bible, prayers and hymns you know and love. At the end of the service, Bishop Carlos will formally licence Rev Helene Öhman, from the Lutheran Church of Sweden into the Anglican
Church in Spain. This will mean Helene can conduct services in St Teresa’s, along with Rev Andrew. The congregation are delighted that Helene has offered her services. After the service there will be a chance to meet and chat to Bishop Carlos informally and have a meal in the club.
The church says: “We want everyone on La Manga Resort to feel a part of this occasion, whether you are churchgoers or not. Our church is here for everyone in the good times and the bad and all the bits in between. We are able to offer our services for all the happy times such as for marriage blessings, wedding vow renewals and baptisms, as well as the sad times such as funerals and memorials for loved ones.”
If anyone would like to know more about our churches contact Rev Terry at telbaxter@ googlemail. com, or Andrew Briant ( San Fulgencio) aprender. ingles. aqui@ gmail. com, Rev Andrew Rea ahrea2@ yahoo. co. uk or Maggie Dew ( Campoverde) maggieruthdew@ hotmail. com.