Monthly Message from our Rector - April 2026
Good News!
About 20 years ago, I had a meeting with my Bishop to talk about the possibility that I might be ordained. I prepared for the sort of questions I thought he would ask me. Why did I want to be ordained? Why did I feel I had a sense of Calling? What did I think a priest was anyway? Maybe even what did I consider the good news actually was?
But I wasn't prepared for the scenario that was presented to me: “So, imagine you're in the village pub…. and it's Good Friday. Someone, who knows you are a Christian, says to you: what's so good about Good Friday? What do you say to them?”
Now you might be thinking a Vicar should be able to explain “what's so good about Good Friday?” and I agree with you. But you need to remember at this point I was not a Vicar. I was a church treasurer who had no formal theological training!
As far as I can remember my answer was not about the who, how, when or where of the crucifixion but all about why Jesus was crucified. In essence that Good Friday was Good not because Jesus died, but because he died to save us and set us free from our sins, he died so that we could have eternal life – and that was definitely good.
In the context of a society where significantly more people are going out and buying bibles and asking questions about faith, we are much more likely now than 20 years ago to be asked “what's so good about Good Friday?” So, what would you say if someone asked you?
And what would you say if someone asked about your story. How did you become a Christian? Why do you believe? Has God ever answered prayer?
There will be a chance to think more about this as after Easter, we’ll be looking at how Disciples make sense of, communicate and live in response to all that they have seen and heard, and all the Spirit has revealed to them.
However, as we approach Easter can I encourage you to think about these questions now, and be better prepared than I was, when the bishop asked me:
What's so good about Good Friday? And how did you become a Christian? Why do you believe? Has God ever answered prayer?
Wishing you every blessing this Easter Season.
Revd Peter Francis