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| New Archbishop of Wales Andy John blessing Loco No 6 Duncan on its 100th birthday Source: Herald Wales |
Puzzled by his unexplained absence from HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, I tried to establish what pressing engagements the new Archbishop of Wales has been involved in.
Unlike his predecessor who saw no need to build up his office following his election, archbishop Andy John initially busied himself building an entourage to assist him in shouldering the burden of carrying out the 'national responsibilities' of his new office.
I drew a blank searching for the archbishop's engagements or diary on the unwieldy Church in Wales web site so tried 'Googling' instead. The results were disappointing. Entering various combinations such as 'archbishop andy john's diary' I found nothing. 'archbishop andy John's engagements', again produced nothing.
When searching specifically under 'News', all I found I found was Archbishop criticised for being in group pulling faces in 'disrespectful' photo at Bangor Cathedral.
Appointing an assistant bishop, the archbishop said "I am delighted that Mary has agreed to take on operational responsibility for much of the life of our Diocese [emphasis added] to assist me while I take on the role of Archbishop of Wales."
The Job Purpose of the PA is more enlightening:
"The PA delivers a variety of operational support services to enable the Archbishop of Wales to carry out his national responsibilities [emphasis added] and those within the Diocese of Bangor.
As a key member of the team, the PA will provide administrative and operational support in relation to the Archbishop’s changing, demanding and complex workload. The PA will work closely with the Archbishop, his Chaplain, and others to provide practical support, good initiative and engagement in delivering a range of tasks.
"The PA is the first point of contact, co-ordinating and supporting meetings, preparing briefings, processing correspondence and arranging logistics to ensure that the work of the Archbishop is efficient, effective and responsive to changing requirements."
The Archbishop's chaplain "will be a key member of the Archbishop's team, supporting and resourcing [emphasis added] his ministry, both practically and through prayer, and preparing his public engagements."
So to support him as he carries out his national responsibilities, the archbishop has added around £91,000 to his £51,740 salary giving a total of £142,740. I have failed to identify any program of engagements or pronouncements other than "same-sex couples could marry in church 'within five years'."
Apart from recruiting his episcopal entourage and blessing Loco No 6 Duncan on its 100th birthday (pictured), 'Googling' has turned up nothing to explain the archbishop's 'busy schedule' which makes his snub of the most important event of his archbishopric, the Thanksgiving Service, even more disgraceful.
If he is hiding his light under a bushel then he should let it shine so that people can see his good works.
That's not No. 6 "Duncan" - in fact no such locomotive exists outside the "Thomas the Tank Engine" books. In fact Talyllyn No. 6 is called "Douglas", is a steam loco built in 1918 and looks totally different! The loco in the picture is diesel No. 12 "St. Cadfan", built as recently as 1983.
ReplyDeleteWhether I agree with "blessing" inanimate objects (although locomotives do at least move) is another matter entirely!
Whatever else: judging by this photo he's not a fat controller!
ReplyDeletePS The locomotive naming and blessing took place on 30th October 2016 as part of Tywyn's celebrations marking 1500 years since Cadfan had established a Christian community there.
ReplyDeleteBuffers and Buffoon perhaps.
ReplyDeleteAd Clerum
Empty diary, empty head.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the usual employment costs don't forget about any unaudited "discretionary" funds tucked away and hidden in a dark corner of the Diocesan accounts.
ReplyDeleteDodoJo and Caiaphas must be over the moon with the Bangor Buffoon diverting attention away from their antics and Dioceses.
ReplyDeleteYou might have more luck using Google to look for 'Archbishop Andy John's dairy".
ReplyDeleteOn that salary he's treating the pew sitters as cash cows to be milked to the max.
Oh, for the days when all of the bishops' engagements were printed each month on the rear page of the Diocesan Leaflet (in the days when bishops really worked). I eagerly awaited it as I would be able to prepare for the Bishop to call in for a gin, on the way home, after an induction or other jolly in the vicinity.
ReplyDeleteUnison Off
Oh don't be so hard on the blighter. Seek and ye shall find. For there is one upcoming Event which will be taxing ++Jockstrap McAndy to the hilt (or kilt). As the only entry listed in the Diocese of Bangor 'Events' webpage is announcement of the 2022 Diocesan Conference (Four whackeroo days of it at Worcester College, Oxford with hotels, meals, train fares, taxis, etc. for all his clergy, NSP, deacons, ordinands, cling-ons and himself of course).
ReplyDeleteNow apart from the logistics of this charabanc outing, the one thing that will be taking up the Archbishops full attention will be title and theme of the Annual Jamboree: "Doing Theology Excellently"!!! For a man who hasn't a clue about theology - or divinity - he has a lot of reading and learning to do in the summer months before leading that discussion.
Other than that AB, you're right. Nothing else on the schedule so sit back, let Mary Stallard do the 'day-job' and he can recline on his throne to do the 'day dreaming'. Oh joy! (Back to his key-note speech for the Conference on Excellence in Theology. I wonder if he'll get Anna Morrell to script-write that too??? She might as well: it would be as banal as her Press Statements.
Ad Clerum (GCE 'O' Level Scripture)
Good Lord, you don't really think dear old Anna writes anything do you? She's merely the mouthpiece/messenger that shouldn't be shot.
DeleteGracious me, no.
Anna's greatest claim to fame was the occasion many moons ago that she leaked the story to her then colleagues in the Western Mail of dear departed Bonaparte altering the words of "God rest ye merry Gentlemen" to "God rest you merry people" 🎅 🎅 🎅
Friend Ad Clerum suggests Buffer and Buffoon.
ReplyDeletePerhaps better 'Shunter and Shafter...'?
Old Bill
You're being too kind with your figures AB; there's Employe NI and pension contributions to add to what the beaurocratick entourage get; probably add 10-15% to the salary figure.
ReplyDeleteIf memory still serves, I think you will find that the clergy pension scheme is non-contributory and all pensions are paid straight out of RB funds. In any case that can easily be verified by checking the annual RB report and accounts.
DeleteThe reason for mentioning it is that not so long ago, an Archdeacon in Llandaff declared that the best thing the clergy pensioners could do for the Church in Wales was to die ASAP to save the Church money.
Naturally, upon his own subsequent retirement, he ignored his own advice!
Not to mention the costs of housing provided gratis and maintenance costs of the property.
DeleteWhat do any of the bishops in the CinW actually do? Each could be dismissed and the Church would carry on as usual while saving tens of thousands of pounds.
ReplyDelete'National responsibilities' ??? He can deceive himself but not pewsitters like me who have stopped giving him the cash to fund his illusion.
Will he ever make the connection with reality? ANDY -you are not important - in fact
you are detrimental - and nobody listens to you anyway, thank God.
LW
There's one born every minute LW (see previous gibberish posted by TinPot ToiletPaper....)
DeleteI believe I am right in thinking - but can't swear to it - that in Germany, all Lutheran ministers (they being in the majority save for some Catholic strongholds) have their salaries/stipends paid by the State which might explain why their churches are vibrant, stick to the mainstream of popularity and focus on the 'Job Spec' which is the 'God-Stuff' ... not LGBTQ+ whims, politics, the cosmetics and greediness of our lot.
ReplyDeleteCould I be correct in also thinking - from some snippet or other years ago - that Archdeacons in the C-in-W are paid from the CofE sponsoring HMG Ministry. Probably wrong. As TP has often noted: I'm not that bright.
But the German Lutheran system certainly has the advantage that if you get a duff Minister then Vater-Geisticher (m) of Frau-Priesterin (f) can be sacked. No qualms. You first get shunted out of your parish to mull things over and if no improvement, then Byeee! Now wouldn't that be interesting if applied to Wales where all local authority spending is based on value for money and what that expenditure can bring to vote-winning of Councillors and Senedd members!!!! First out would be Andy.
Ad Clerum
What are you smoking tonight?
DeleteThe WAG already want to squander £millions more increasing their private members club from 60 to 96.
God Almighty, just imagine, devolved religion.
I shudder to think.
Addendum to my above. I was right in my thinking. Indeed, if any more disillusioned priests are thinking of quitting Andy Bangor's cabbage-patch, then go the whole hog and become a Lutheran priest. Average salary (excluding fees and other earnings) is Euro=45,587 per annum; senior priests are Euro=55,931 and starting point for young curates is Euro=33,159. But be prepared. The Lutheran Church doesn't accept academically failing priests. 55% have Masters degrees, 10% doctorates, and 26% bachelors. That would exclude many of ours such as poor former Very Rev. Kathy Jones (Bangor) who left school with Zilch/Zero/Nil GCSE's but did, fair play, go on to a secretarial course in her local Tech College.
ReplyDeleteClergy salaries come from the fund the German government sequestrated from the church 200 years ago + PAYE tax on those who register that they are church members which is why Electr'l Rolls of German churches are so small, but number of congregants so large. This applies if you are Catholic, German Epsicopalian, Jewish etc.
My chum in the Sakristel (Vestry) informs that state paid clergy salaries are guaranteed to rise by 10% every five years, pensions are index-linked and tied to civil service rises and that any other clergy earnings such as weddings, funerals, teaching, media-work etc. can be retained by the Priest and not given over to his parish. Good old Martin Luther!
So that absconders from Bangor can figure this out, the £-Euro exchange rate is presently about £1 - E1.12. Ability to speak German is, however, a pre-requisite ... but think about it, same condition applies here (at least to try and learn it) with the Welsh language: but how many actually do or even try?
Ad Clerum
Surely, there is one very simple explanation to account for Andy Crap's absense from the rejoicing in St Paul's Cathedral on 3rd June. At some time in the not too distant past, HM the Queen has either offended him, called out his incompetence (by drawing attention to his awkwardness with mutations, perhaps?) or questioned his judgement.
ReplyDeleteAs the erstwhile Mrs John has often commented, Andy's capacity to bear grudges for a long time is legendary.
Her Majesty's 50th (Golden) Anniversary was a far happier meeting of Crown and Mitre for the Church-in-Wales when in 2002 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended Bangor Cathedral for the all-Wales national service of thanksgiving. There to greet her was the then archbishop of Wales, Dr. Rowan Williams (thankfully not shunted down the line like a game of pass-the-parcel to the Bishop of Bangor, Nutty Barry Morgan ... or insultingly to an Assistant Bishop as is ++Andy's rudeness).
ReplyDeleteSuffice to say, His Grace ++Rowan delivered what could only be described by all attending as a 'blinder' of a sermon: informed, respectful, enlightening and with a twist of wit. I was living and working in London at the time but quickly heard of it from a person who might only be described as 'in the loop'. A civil servant t'boot; not a priest simply guessing. George Carey had announced his retirement but no replacement yet found. I recall my quite senior 'insider' tell me: "Well, your man in Wales seems to have clinched it! That sermon delivered as if personally to the Queen of his!!! " At that time ++Rowan's name was way down on the William Hill race-card. But 'that sermon of his' made its mark on HM and in quick order thereafter, he was named as 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. (That he spoke old and modern Greek might have swayed the Duke of Edinburgh too!)
Let us thank our God that ++Andy was not Wales's then most senior Anglican. He'd probably have come up with some cock-eyed excuse of a pre-scheduled Bible Class he had to take in Cwm-y-Glo or the blessing of a double-decker bus in Nebo. Pity too that Rowan is no longer in position of influence. As well as Greek and umpteen other languages, he's fluent in Russian with the diplomacy to communicate plea for peace to Moscow.
Old Bill
Are you people do you want to stand at the Chruch In Wales is a disestablished chruch and the queen has no place in the chruch she in her 70 years as never had a place in the chruch in wales she is not supreme governor. You also understand that there are many more people in wiggles wish wheels to be a republic not a monarchy. It just seems to be that the older generation who are generation want to make her something she isn’t in the Chruch In Wales.
ReplyDeleteJ
Just as well we did away with the Welsh princes all those centuries ago then!
DeleteDear J. When you are sober, would you like to make a contribution that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteUnison Off
I suspect that writing on a tiny typepad is more likely to blame than Strong Drink! Although I'm intrigued as to how "Wales" came to be rendered as both "wiggles" and "wheels"!
ReplyDeleteREMINDER
ReplyDeletePlease remember to add a pseudonym if you submit an anonymous comment for publication.
Summarising ++Andy's various, increasing and bizarre gaffs to a chum this morning, he came up with the thought that there could be perhaps a Steven Spielberg film in all of this:
ReplyDelete"The Bishop That Never Was". Rob Brydon perhaps to play lead role.
Old Bill
AJ phone home?
DeleteMy understanding is that, when they advertised for his chaplain, that there was little (read NO) organisation in terms of office organisation, diary management or strategic planning (deciding and doing). The only discernible change I’ve seen since Andy has given his mates jobs… I mean, prayerfully discerned who to work with through the medium of Welsh, is the change of Twitter account…with no mention of Jesus (quelle surprise), religion, or even much of what he’s doing - although a lovely one of EpiscoDwarf wearing her oversized hat in alb and stole. I wait to see if he sends a signed picture of himself to be hung in every vestry in Wales - wouldn’t put it past him.
ReplyDeleteDewiResistance
We need a new darts 🎯 board in Abercwmbackofbeyond!
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61802560
DeleteThe chocolate teapot speaks out on "a lack of moral fibre".
BBC Wales news uses the wrong photograph of the buffoon.
"A lack of moral fibre!" Physician, heal thyself.
DeleteSeymour
What a shame the BBC hasn't provided a HYS / comments option on this article and provided the people of the Diocese of Bangor to provide some feedback on their thoughts concerning the buffoon's antics and virtue-signalling posturing!
Delete@ Lux et Veritas (BBC report)
ReplyDeleteA typical and dim-witted self-publicising Vox-Pop from glory-boy. Typical too of his 'lefty' slant on issues: the Socialist stance: "We're totally against it - but can't come up with a better option". It smacks of the Ancient Briton motif at the top of the pages: "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything". Archbishop Andy seems to stand for nothing ... except his own voice and banal camera-grin. The same +Andy who as the Great Jehovah made something of an idiot of himself over the matter of the illegal immigrant 'Jungle' in Sangatte, Calais, not even stopping to hear the far more informed opinions of the Bishops of Dover, Rochester and Calais who had already decided on humanatarian, health and other grounds, the abominable campsite be closed. Tough decisions but ones which Bishops with more gumption took. Andy however saw self-publicity. Idiot.
Actually, moving on, it begs the question of the internationalist bishop: how many black or Asian clergy are employed in the Diocese of Bangor??? White-Gays by the score ... but why not Asian/Afro/Blacks? Oh, and what happened to the wonderful support Bangor used to provide to diocese in Uganda (Lango). Finance, fundraising, school building and hospital support, clergy exchanges ... it all seemed to stop with +Andy's arrival at Bangor and cancelled completely with his appointment of Cyanide Sue as Dean. Lack of moral - and charitable - fibre me'thinks. I don't think he realises just how unpopular he is with both clergy and lay in Bangor(Diocese).
Ad Clerum
One can't help but wonder about his popularity in the Lango Diocese.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-61851463
DeleteSomeone else more local who will know far more about it than Welby or Randy Pandy.
I suspect, Episkopos, that if they heard he was flying out there to renew Christian love and peace, they'd petition the European Court of Human Rights to ground his flight before take-off ... although knowing how misdirected and misguided ++Andy is he'd probably land in Cambodia not Kampala (as indeed he thinks he's Bishop of North Korea not North Wales). Tosspot (as in Pol-Pot or Teapot).
ReplyDeleteAdd Clerum
Randy Pandy would certainly be one of the most dangerous Ruperts with a map and compass that ever walked God's good earth.
DeleteWho will remove his Crozier and Mitre before he leads his Regiment over the precipice?
Many years ago my wife was booking a flight between London and Dakar. Just in time she realised that the travel agent had got things wrong and was booking her to Dhaka instead. The world seemed larger in those days.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine how bad if she'd booked a train journey Trainfan ... !!! She wouldn't have got anywhere, not even on 'Duncan'!
ReplyDeleteBeen there. Served there. Know them (Uganda and Rwanda). I can almost hear them now (Episkopos) in their Swahili yelping ref your Welsh Archbishop: "Yeye Askofu mbaya!!! Kukamatwa Kwa Makia....!!! Hakuna nzuri nchini Uganda!!!!" Translated without spears, swords, curses, etc. "Him Bad Bish-bosh. Him insult Queenie-Queen. Him not welcome Uganda!!!' Best bishop Bangor/Wales ever had was anglican missionary-priest J C Jones; plucked from Uganda to Wales. From what I read, perhaps more with true experience of real priesting - evangelical or catholic - from a continent growing in faith are needed to re-boot the tired CofE and the leaderless C-in-W.
ReplyDeleteCMS Bernard
There's something vaguely racist and colonialist about your comment CMS - "Him insult Queenie-Queen" - not sure there was any need for that kind of patronising parody.
DeleteTP
@CMS Bernard.
DeleteYou're not merely asking for a miracle there but hoping to raise the dead!
You ever lived and Ministered in central Africa TP? Expert perhaps in the pidgin ?? Understand that 'Queenie-Queen' is respectful in the hinters and with rural village people? Tempted to say its the speak-talk of the local 'tribes' but you'd take offence of that too no doubt even though they pride themselves as 'tribal'. Maybe you ought to learn more about the C.M.S. and of the communities we served/serve. Queenie-Queen is well familiar with her title and I can assure you doesn't find it at all racist; she rejoices in their celebration of her Commonwealth reign ... and emphasis on double title of Queenie-Queen.
ReplyDeleteCMS Bernard
Toilet Paper won't give a hoot that you know better since he/she feels they have a monopoly on the truth.
DeleteOh dear, you don't even see it do you!
DeleteTP
Toilet Paper does not think they know more than anyone else but they do put forward an alternative view. Never welcome here.
DeleteTP
For once TP you're right. You're not particularly welcome here. And your plural of 'they' as identity suggests not only alternative views but alternative gender t'boot: a switch to the binary-sex mix of LGBTQ+ How very confused you must be. And a further noted weakness ... you always seem to want the last word. So give us all a weekend treat/laugh ... make it a good one!
ReplyDeleteOld Bill
Not the last word - just a voice in the debate and the provision of an alternative view point. Glad you picked up on the pronoun - their is hope for you yet John (he/him?)
DeleteTP
There is no hope for you.
DeleteI see what I did there! Always the way - you type it and send it and then realise your dyslexia has got the better of you. Comment stands nevertheless - you people really are not very nice are you!
DeleteTP
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-61876944
ReplyDeleteWasn't Randy Pandy the chocolate teapot down at Stonehenge bright and early this morning, mixing it up with all the other cult leaders?
Can anyone spot the swivel eyed loon in amongst the pagans and druids?
One suspects he might have been torn on the matter and felt he should also be on a picket line with striking railway staff.
DeleteI have been looking at the diocesan facebook page and, other than ordinations to the deaconate and the installation of a new lap dog sorry director of ministry, the not Rev’d Stallard has done most activity including licensings. I wonder if Andy Pandy has had covid? That might excuse him but I remain unconvinced of anything with him.
ReplyDeleteThe thought occurs… shouldn’t we be glad Andy isn’t doing much? He’s doing less damage is he’s doing less activity!
ReplyDelete