Ascension : St. Mary’s Church
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Editors) 18.08.2011 (Article Archived on 01.09.2011)

On Monday of this week, the Churchwardens of St. Mary's welcomed Revd. Fr. Christopher Brown to the island.

St. Mary’s Church

Ascension Island (Diocese of St.Helena)

WELCOME TO FATHER CHRISTOPHER BROWN

On Monday of this week, the Churchwardens of St. Mary's welcomed Revd. Fr. Christopher Brown to the island. He has been appointed by Bishop Richard Fenwick, our new Bishop of St.Helena, to serve on Ascension Island for a two year tour of duty.

Fr.Chris has come to us from Malvern in England where he has been living for just a year since concluding a three year period of ministry on the island of Tristan da Cunha as the Rector of the Anglican Church of St.Mary the Virgin.

Fr. Chris; now aged 61, was born in mid-Wales in 1949, he trained as a cathedral chorister and later attended Brecon Boys’ Grammar School. A graduate of the University of Birmingham, Chris read for a degree in Theology and Education; later he completed post^­graduate studies in Practical Theology at the University of Wales. Fr. Chris spent just over twenty years in teaching mainly in the independent sector. In 1991, he left teaching and undertook full­time training for the ordained ministry. He will be remembered by some of our readers as the young priest appointed by Bishop John Ruston of St. Helena to St. Matthew's and St Mark's churches at Hutts Gate and Longwood. He left St. Helena in 2001.

Among Father Chris's main interests are singing, poetry, art and drama; he hopes to be able to share some of these interests here on the island.

At a recent interview, Father Chris stated that he hopes to build up the church choir at St.Mary's and is looking forward to his first service which will be this coming Sunday at the usual time of 10.30am. We sincerely hope that everyone will make a real effort to attend and give Fr. Chris a very warm welcome to the island.

Sunday Service— 21 August 2011

The service for Sunday will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Father Chris Brown. The service will start at the usual time of 10.30am.

Have a safe and blessed week.

Church Wardens: Mervyn Isaac 6230 and Alan Nicholls 6232