We were delighted to welcome six Bishops from South Sudan to Poole Deanery from 8th to 12th August 2022.
Our long-standing friend Archbishop Moses Deng Bol of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Province and his wife Elizabeth Ajok Chan led the visit. Also with us were Bishop Joseph Mamer of Wanyjok and his wife Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino, Bishop Peter Jonathan Beria of Wau and his wife Janet, Bishop Peter Garang Akuei of Nyamlel and his wife Roda Ayen Martin Maker, Bishop Peter Marial Agok of Malek Rip and Bishop Peter Gatbel Kunen Lual of Maiwut.
Visits between our two communities were always intended to be one of the main features of Poole Deanery’s Partnership with Wau Diocese. The civil war in South Sudan and more recently the Covid pandemic has made such visits increasingly difficult for several years, so we were overjoyed to welcome our South Sudanese visitors.
Midweek services at St Michael's Hamworthy, St George's Oakdale and St Dunstan's Upton were well attended. Bishops were divided between the three churches and the services all featured interviews with them, with coffee and informal chat afterwards.
The Question-&-Answer Evening on Thursday 11th August at St James' Church Poole was a highlight of the week, with some 55 people able to question the bishops on a variety of aspects of their ministry in South Sudan.
A business meeting between the Northern Bahr el Ghazal bishops and the PWP committee members was a rare opportunity to discuss the future of our Partnership, with some exciting developments agreed.
A full programme of visits and events gave the bishops an opportunity to sample many different aspects of life in Poole: including a swim in the sea at Sandbanks, the work of Street Pastors, Routes-to-Roots' new centre, a concert at St James' Church, fireworks on the Quay and a boat trip around Poole Harbour, as well as many more informal gatherings.
There is no doubt that the visit was a joyous success, which has strengthened our links with our brothers and sisters in Wau.
A recording of the Question-&-Answer meeting with all our bishops at St James's Church Poole on the evening of Thursday 11th August 2022 may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64bRgGxwrW4
Gallery
Below are some photos of what our visitors did day-by-day while they were with us.
Monday in Salisbury:
Gathering for a group photo at the west front of the Cathedral. Right: Bishop Peter Garang & Mama Roda.
Our long-standing friend Archbishop Moses Deng Bol of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Province and his wife Elizabeth Ajok Chan led the visit. Also with us were Bishop Joseph Mamer of Wanyjok and his wife Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino, Bishop Peter Jonathan Beria of Wau and his wife Janet, Bishop Peter Garang Akuei of Nyamlel and his wife Roda Ayen Martin Maker, Bishop Peter Marial Agok of Malek Rip and Bishop Peter Gatbel Kunen Lual of Maiwut.
Visits between our two communities were always intended to be one of the main features of Poole Deanery’s Partnership with Wau Diocese. The civil war in South Sudan and more recently the Covid pandemic has made such visits increasingly difficult for several years, so we were overjoyed to welcome our South Sudanese visitors.
Midweek services at St Michael's Hamworthy, St George's Oakdale and St Dunstan's Upton were well attended. Bishops were divided between the three churches and the services all featured interviews with them, with coffee and informal chat afterwards.
The Question-&-Answer Evening on Thursday 11th August at St James' Church Poole was a highlight of the week, with some 55 people able to question the bishops on a variety of aspects of their ministry in South Sudan.
A business meeting between the Northern Bahr el Ghazal bishops and the PWP committee members was a rare opportunity to discuss the future of our Partnership, with some exciting developments agreed.
A full programme of visits and events gave the bishops an opportunity to sample many different aspects of life in Poole: including a swim in the sea at Sandbanks, the work of Street Pastors, Routes-to-Roots' new centre, a concert at St James' Church, fireworks on the Quay and a boat trip around Poole Harbour, as well as many more informal gatherings.
There is no doubt that the visit was a joyous success, which has strengthened our links with our brothers and sisters in Wau.
A recording of the Question-&-Answer meeting with all our bishops at St James's Church Poole on the evening of Thursday 11th August 2022 may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64bRgGxwrW4
Gallery
Below are some photos of what our visitors did day-by-day while they were with us.
Monday in Salisbury:
Gathering for a group photo at the west front of the Cathedral. Right: Bishop Peter Garang & Mama Roda.
Tuesday around the Deanery:
Top row: Group photo in Ian and Els Jolly's garden; Elizabeth, Archbishop Moses & Bishop Joseph; Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino and Rev Howard Page-Clarke
Bottom row: Bishops and their wives deep in conversation at the viewpoint; Bishop Joseph Mamer really enjoyed his swim in the sea!
Top row: Group photo in Ian and Els Jolly's garden; Elizabeth, Archbishop Moses & Bishop Joseph; Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino and Rev Howard Page-Clarke
Bottom row: Bishops and their wives deep in conversation at the viewpoint; Bishop Joseph Mamer really enjoyed his swim in the sea!
Wednesday in churches:
Bishop Joseph Mamer and his wife Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino at St Dunstan's Church, Upton with Rev Matt Simpson; coffee at St Dunstan's; three bishops with the volunteers who prepared lunch at St George's Oakdale.
Bishop Joseph Mamer and his wife Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino at St Dunstan's Church, Upton with Rev Matt Simpson; coffee at St Dunstan's; three bishops with the volunteers who prepared lunch at St George's Oakdale.
Thursday: Covid testing, Q-&-A meeting & fireworks:
Top row: Covid test samples collected and safely delivered to Salisbury by MG at 1025; listening to South Sudanese music in Claire & Helen Chauncy's garden; chatting before the Q-&-A meeting, St James' Church, Poole.
Middle row: Q-&-A meeting: chatting beforehand; Jeff Neagle, PWP Chair introduces the bishops; Rev. Lucy Holt, Rural Dean of Poole, with all the bishops. Bottom row: Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino; late-night fireworks on Poole Quay.
Top row: Covid test samples collected and safely delivered to Salisbury by MG at 1025; listening to South Sudanese music in Claire & Helen Chauncy's garden; chatting before the Q-&-A meeting, St James' Church, Poole.
Middle row: Q-&-A meeting: chatting beforehand; Jeff Neagle, PWP Chair introduces the bishops; Rev. Lucy Holt, Rural Dean of Poole, with all the bishops. Bottom row: Rev. Clarice Achieng Owino; late-night fireworks on Poole Quay.
Friday: lunch at Routes-to-Roots, followed by a boat trip around Poole Harbour on a beautiful hot sunny afternoon.
Top row: Eileen Traylor, Archbishop Moses, his wife Elizabeth & Bishop Joseph serving lunch at the homeless charity Routes-to-Roots; a boat trip around Poole Harbour on the 'Purbeck Princess'; Bishop Peter Garang and his wife Roda.
Bottom row: PWP Trustee Rev. Chris Strain, Bishop Joseph and Rev. Clarice; Archbishop Moses and Elizabeth meet Sam Tomlinson-Mynors, whose great-grandfather was one of those who set up the Salisbury-Sudan Link in 1972; also in the photo are Rev. Jean de Garis, Rector of St Francis Church, Salisbury and his wife Sue; a farewell photo in St George's Oakdale, with Bishop Peter Garang, his wife Roda, PWP Secretary Rev. Penny Draper and Shaun Draper.
Top row: Eileen Traylor, Archbishop Moses, his wife Elizabeth & Bishop Joseph serving lunch at the homeless charity Routes-to-Roots; a boat trip around Poole Harbour on the 'Purbeck Princess'; Bishop Peter Garang and his wife Roda.
Bottom row: PWP Trustee Rev. Chris Strain, Bishop Joseph and Rev. Clarice; Archbishop Moses and Elizabeth meet Sam Tomlinson-Mynors, whose great-grandfather was one of those who set up the Salisbury-Sudan Link in 1972; also in the photo are Rev. Jean de Garis, Rector of St Francis Church, Salisbury and his wife Sue; a farewell photo in St George's Oakdale, with Bishop Peter Garang, his wife Roda, PWP Secretary Rev. Penny Draper and Shaun Draper.
