Our Clergy

Father Shaun Richards
A letter read out to the Sunday Congregaton

Sunday 6^th June 2010 AD

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have often spoken to you about the need to listen to what God is saying about life and how he wants you to follow him.

I have also been listening to the Lord and trying to work out what he wants from me. It's a difficult thing to listen and discern and naturally it takes time and prayer.

Over the past eighteen months God has been asking me to explore again my vocation as a priest. It has been a restless time because there has been so much going on, especially with our pioneering solar roof.

Saint Silas has been my home for nine years, and its true what people say - time really flies when you are having fun! I've had the best of times with you. This is also the longest time I have ever stayed in one place and it has been blessed and holy. We have built up our prayer life together, redeveloped our building and grown in many different ways.

I can hardly imagine not being here, but I have come to recognise after much prayer and some heartache, that God is asking me to change direction and to work in another part of his vineyard. So the time has come for me to prepare to leave Saint Silas Church and say goodbye.

There is never an ideal time to leave a church, and the thought of leaving you all is very painful for me, but Bishop John has agreed to let me go. My last Mass here will be on Sunday 25^th July. I hope we can all be together on that day.

My new post will not be as a priest right away. I will be catching up on an overdue holiday and hope to work as a layman in the Roman Catholic Church. Eventually I may continue my priestly ministry there, but that is some time away.

I have thoroughly loved being your parish priest and friend; you have taught me so much. I ask you now, to support our church wardens and church council and to set about the important task of praying for the swift appointment of a new parish priest.

You remain in my prayers. I hope that you will pray for me too.

Stay blessed, keep the faith!

The Bishop of Fulham

The Right Reverend John Broadhurst is the Bishop of Fulham. He is a Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of London. Under the 'London Plan' he has pastoral care of parishes which have petitioned under the Act of Synod for alternative Episcopal care.

Email: bpfulham@aol.com
Web site: www.bishopoffulham.co.uk