Return to England

 We’re back in Axminster now, after our six weeks in Chantilly. We enjoyed our time there, and think it was worthwhile; now we’re feeling a bit tired, and have (typically) developed heavy colds (but not Covid, despite fact that a number of people at Chantilly have been afflicted!)

 Our last week was busy, in one way or another. I don’t think we’ve mentioned the weekly on-line prayer meeting that some of them organize. It takes place in a morning, and normally attracts a dozen or more people, which is encouraging – and perhaps worth trying in other places. The process of looking to the future continues for St Peter’s. There were two meetings, an evening one for the church council and others, facilitated by the Archdeacon of France. People were encouraged to talk about what their hopes and expectations for the future were, as well as identifying what was good (and what not so good) about the church. The Bishop in Europe came the next day for an open lunch, with questions and answers. Both meetings were well managed, and gave people an opportunity to speak up. Before the bishop’s lunch, Jo and I had a meeting with him and his wife, and the Archdeacon, which was helpful and affirming.

 Our final Sunday was good; two Communions, one BCP, one Common Worship. The latter was a double event – our farewell, and a welcome to a young man who had been confirmed the day before at Maisons-Laffitte. The two aspects blended quite well, and the service was followed by a vin d’honneur for Kyle, and them a bring-and-share lunch for our goodbye.

Then we had a day to pack, and tidy up the house, before our final day-off – when we had to go into Paris once more. We wandered in Montmartre, and visited Sacré Coeur, attending the midday mass. Then some more flânerie, before a visit to the grands magasins on Boulevard Haussmann, where the two big stores, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, have an annual competition to produce the more imaginative window displays. It’s always worth seeing, if only to admire the ingenuity of the designers. We concluded with a hot chocolate in the Galeries top floor café, with views across Paris.

Our leave-taking from Chantilly was rather damp – continual rain is not the ideal context for loading a car, and we seemed to be taking back rather more than we had bought – as indeed we were, with some bottles of wine, and tins of delicacies! On the return trip, we stopped at Evreux, which has a tall thin Gothic cathedral, and some other interesting buildings. And so on to Caen, and an excellent dinner at a restaurant in the port town of Ouistreham; then a rather lengthy wait for embarkation, mitigated by the crossing being extended for an hour longer than originally announced – so we had a better night’s sleep. And so to home.

 Final Reflections?

St Peter’s is a church with potential for some growth (despite the dire effects of Brexit.) The church has good relations with the local mairie and is well integrated into the local community; it is noted as part of Chantilly’s heritage. The church plant is good: the church is close to the main shopping street and schools; the clergy house is spacious, and there is an adaptable church centre below. There seems still to be an extensive pool of anglophones in the region; an English-speaking scout troop has around 30 members, and the proximity to Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport means that it is likely there will continue to be people to attract; the Christmas fair and the Carol Service will have good attendances. And the congregation, though a little depleted, includes some capable and imaginative people, including more families than many English churches can attract.

 As for France; Jo and I always enjoy our time in the country. True, the national pastime of calling strikes (and getting results) is unabated. But it feels in some ways a much more ‘together’ country than the UK. The country is suffering similar economic problems as the UK, but the government is more committed to ensuring good infrastructure, and promoting solidarity. The cost of petrol was subsidised for a few months (no longer); and homes are being offered significant help in installing heat pumps. In the Chantilly area, the rail system is good, and offers of relatively cheap travel make it appealing. Eating out, and as a family, is still highly regarded. On the down side, museums and galleries all charge for admission, and TV is even worse than in this country.

 But it has been, oh so good, to have gone back there after three years absence, and to discover that we still have something to offer by way of ministry, We look forward to our return for Pentecost 2023