The retiring vicars of Chislehurst

Retiring Rev Canon Michael Adams

Anyone returning to Chislehurst later this year, after just a four year absence, will not find things as they left it, so far as vicars or rector of the three Anglican churches are concerned.

First, there was a change at St Nicholas. Rev. Simon Burton-Jones went off to become Archdeacon of Rochester. Then Rev. Bill Beer retired as vicar of The Annunciation. Now Rev. Canon Michael Adams, vicar of Christ Church is about to retire.

Simon Burton-Jones only just about got his feet under the desk, or his hands on the church keys, when he was off, but Beer and Adams are different cases altogether. Beer had been at The Annunciation since 1985, Adam has been at Christ Church since 1992.

In announcing his retirement, Adams, whose last Sunday will be on 28th September, said, "The time has come to make way for someone younger to lead the church.We [Adams and his family] will look back with thanksgiving on all that God has done during that time...and our prayer is that he will call the next leader of his choice to take the church into the next generation. There are exciting times ahead for Christ Church!"

Presumably not because Adams is retiring.

Here at Village News we wish him and his wife well in his retirement. We visited Christ Church last year when there was an open day to celebrate the refurbishment of the main church building which included pulling out the pews and putting in some comfy chairs. It was all very welcoming.

The question is therefore, not who's going to be the next vicar, but which is going to be the next church to dump its pews, St Nicholas or The Annunciation?

Which do you think? Leave your comments below.

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