The Move

So here we are. Cockermouth. Or, to be more precise - Little Broughton. A village, next to Great Broughton, set on raised ground above the River Derwent, about 3 miles outside the town, a mile or so off the A66. We have had a marvellous welcome, and so many people seem pleased to see us. The villages have had a difficult time, without a resident vicar for about 5 years, so we can understand why we are greeted so warmly. The surrounding landscape is beautiful, best appreciated when driving away from the village, back to the main road. I'll send publish some photos when I get round to it!

The move itself went as smoothly as it possibly could, and for that too we are very thankful. There is still much to do, with several cartons to unpack, furniture to arrange and the study to organize, but we are making good progress. We are actually enjoying it! The vicarage is about 30 years old, and is best described as 'quirky'- a most unusual design with sloping roof and skylight windows in every bedroom! The landing acts as a kind of bridge across the hall, with two bedrooms at either end, one of them with a new en suite bathroom (which we'll use for guests). We are especially grateful for the way the diocese have provided for us, investing much in the vicarage to bring it up to modern standards, with a view to the longer term,beyond our stay here.

Today we are going to worship at the King's Church - part of the New Frontiers network, with whom, I gather, there are friendly relationships across the churches. Last night, we had a really lively and enjoyable evening with my new colleague, Adrian, his wife Lucy and children Eleanor and William. A very special, talented family, with whom I know we will get on well.

In other news (!) - our moving day was also Election Day. Not to boast, but I did actually share with a few people that I thought the Tories might emerge with a clear majority. So I wasn't shocked. Just a feeling I had. To quote from Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign, 'It's the economy, stupid!' Like it or not, the Tories managed to get across a message that the economy is safer in their hands (and, to be fair, Labour's track record in this respect isn't great, even allowing for the crash of 2008), and they coupled this with a 'fear factor' of possible Labour/SNP partnership. In the end, I think a lot of people were swayed by this, and felt safer, more secure with a Tory government - overlooking, sadly, the all too obvious consequences in terms of those who would suffer most. It is, after all, human nature to look after one's own interests and the Tory propaganda really appealed to this. As I said in my previous blog, there was little to inspire us in the whole campaign with a vision of the kind of nation we could become as one that sought the 'common good', and illuminated the world as a beacon for justice, righteousness, peace; goodness, truth and beauty.

Many people are angry with the result, as is clear from social media. My immediate response is to say 'Our God reigns'. This is not pious talk: it's a reminder that any government, of any colour, has to be accountable first and foremost not to the electorate but to God, so we are not to be the judges. It's also a reminder that our task as Christians is to act with the authority of Jesus to alleviate suffering, to live compassionately, to bless our neighbours rather than expend our energies in furious political attacks. I like what Bishop Paul of Liverpool wrote before the election: '...we need people who can see that the church is part of the solution...My responsibility is not to moan, but to vote. To vote, and to work for the common good. My responsibility is to vote for, and work with, those with the moral vision and courage to work for a better society.'

One of the first things I did on May 8 was to discover who is our new MP in the Workington constituency, to write to her, congratulate her, and express the wish that we might meet up sometime. I hope we might
discern what the priorities round here might be and how we, with others (Christians or not) can work for the common good. I have also invited her to my licensing service next Sunday: please remember us all in prayer that day.