Officially the Vicar of the Benefice

The Institution, Induction and Installation of Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest as Vicar of the Benefice

Saturday 22nd March marked a very special day. After four and a half years as Priest in Charge, Rev’d Sarah was officially made Vicar of the Benefice!

It was a really lovely service led by The Rt Rev’d Dr Jane Mainwaring, Bishop of Hertford, and The Venerable Janet Mackenzie, Archdeacon of Hertford, with assistance from Rev’d Canon Mark Dunstan, Rural Dean. With over 100 people in attendance, the church was filled and united in celebration as the Institution, Induction and Installation of Rev’d Sarah took place.

Members of the Benefice family, including Churchwardens Richard Mellor, Margaret Mellor and Peter Melrose; Assistant Churchwarden Martin Vaughan; Readers Lynne Griffiths and Rachael Melrose with Ministry Team member Anne Pulford, took part in the service in various roles. We also had John Hookway as Patron’s Representative for CPAS, along with Master Eugene du Toit and Jonathan Trower as Patron’s Representatives for Haileybury College in attendance.

We asked members of the local community to be part of The Welcome. Helen Payne (1^st Stanstead Abbotts Brownies), Will Drury (Stanstead Abbotts Scout Group), Councillor Tom Foy (Great Amwell Parish Council), Councillor Michael Dormon (Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council), Michael Speed (Headteacher at St Andrew’s Primary School), Lydia Hunt (Headteacher of St John the Baptist Primary School) and Clare Jackson (Representing of All Nations Christian College) kindly came along to officially welcome Rev’d Sarah.

Prayers of Dedication and Intercession were led by Richard Mellor, Mary Salter (Deanery Lay Chairperson) and our Headteachers, Lydia Hunt and Michael Speed.

Lynne Griffiths also played the organ and performed a triumphant trumpet voluntary at the end of the service to lead us all out to the refreshments. And what a marvellous spread it was! Everyone had really pulled together to prepare a lovely buffet for us all to enjoy, and those in the kitchen did a stellar job making sure we were all well fed and watered.

Thank you to everyone involved in the planning, preparation and running of the event. It was really wonderful to be all together and to celebrate Rev’d Sarah taking up the permanent role of Vicar to our Benefice Family.

Anna Bond

[Images courtesy of Richard Mellor and Anna Bond]

: Lynne Griffiths on the organ

: Churchwardens Richard Mellor, Margaret Mellor and Peter Melrose bring forward Rev’d Sarah

: Declaration of Assent and Oaths

: Signing the Declarations

: Reading by Martin Vaughan

: Sermon by Archdeacon of Hertford

: The Institution by the Bishop of Hertford

: The Institution

: The Anointing

: The Blessing of the Vicar and Ministry Team

: The Induction and Installation

: Welcome by Cllr Tom Foy

: Welcome by Cllr Michael Dormon

: Welcome by Lydia Hunt

: Welcome by Michael Speed

: Welcome by Clare Jackson

: Welcome by Will Drury

: Welcome by Helen Payne

: Presentation of the stole (a gift from some of the church family)

: View of the congregation

: Presentation of a flagon of water by Anne Pulford (Act of Commitment)

: Presentation of a Bible by Rachel Melrose (Act of Commitment)

: Presentation of bread and wine by Lynne Griffiths (Act of Commitment)

: Processing out (Anne Pulford and Rev’d Mark Escott)

: Processing out (Rev’d Canon Mark Dunstan, Rev’d Sarah, Archdeacon Janet, Bishop Jane and Rev’d Theresa Musiwacho)

: Gathering outside the church, including Churchwardens, Clergy and Patron’s Representatives

: Churchwardens with Bishop Jane, Archdeacon Janet, Rev’d Canon Mark Dunstan and Rev’d Sarah

: Bishop Jane, Rev’d Sarah, Rev’d Canon Mark Dunstan and Archdeacon Janet

: Lynne Griffiths, Rev’d Sarah and Bishop Jane

: Lynne Griffiths and Rachel Melrose

: Rev’d Sarah with the gifted stole

: An excellent spread

: At St John the Baptist Church, on Sunday morning, all the churchwardens and assistants presented some spring flowers to Sarah for the springtime of her becoming Vicar.