Tuesday, July 14, 2009

 

Pastor Matt in Cirencester

On Sunday we gathered with family and friends of my half brother Matt in the Baptist Church in Cirencester.
Matthew was inducted as the pastor of that church.
He is not the first Frost to have been a minister or preacher in a Baptist Church.
Our great grandfather James Frost was a Baptist lay preacher over 100 years ago. I am sure he was filled with the love of God, but our grandfather - his son - recalled a stern and fierce father.
Some of that might have been down to the severe arthritis which pained and crippled him.
Our Ashley has also preached in the Baptist church in Fleetwood - and very good he was too. I thought so and I know the old ladies of the parish thought he was wonderful.



Maybe it is my imagination, but I really do see a family likeness between great grandfather and Matt.
But I am sure that Matt could not be described as stern and fierce.
So we made our way to Coxwell Street in Cirencester for the service.





Bill and Roger stride towards the building with the pointed roof ahead.



I arrive at the church, having enjoyed a very brief look at Cirencester. We must return.


Before the service began, Bill took a quick snap of Matt. He is looking very relaxed.
The service was full of relaxation and music. The church leaders explained a little of how Matt, not a trained Baptist minister, came to be appointed to be their pastor - very much part of God's plan for both Matt and the church community as they move forwards.
Matt also talked of his move from the Soho Church he has been leading for 14 years to Cirencester.
Members of the church offered up prayers.
The new leader of the Soho church - he has been in the job now for 2 weeks - preached a sermon.
I was glad that there were members of Matt's family together to share in this momentous day in his life.


Afterwards, of course, everybody wanted to talk with Matt. I doubt that he managed to get to the tea table at all! It was quite a spread laid on by the church folk.



Some stayed to chat in the church afterwards. It had been crammed full of people for the service.
Matt has the support of a very loving wife, Suzie and 2 children - Joel and Anna.


Hey - Matt and Suzie this is not your wedding day!


Joel is nearly 10.

Anna, on the left, will be 8 in October.


Anna and her friends play on the stairs.


The Frost family.
Sadly Ruth (Matt's sister) is not in the picture. Her eldest son, Felix was just getting over chicken pox and the younger one (Otto - only 10 months) has now got it very badly, poor little mite.


Suzie's mother, Anne, laughs with one of the older members of the Cirencester congregation. The old lady - sorry I don't know her name - was born in the town. Today she was amongst the church people offering up prayers for Matt.


The camera can snap an image - but it can't eavesdrop!


Jenny (Matt's mother) and Mike.
Dad - shared by Matt and me -(and Roger, Robin and Ruth of course) died over 10 years ago.
Despite the difference of views between Dad and Matt on religion, I know he would have felt very proud.

I had a gift for Matt to mark the day. It had been found in an antiques centre in Lewes earlier in the year.
Lewes was the centre of the world that our Dad loved.
It would be good to think that within its history might be some tiny trace of a Sussex village loved by Dad.
I had thought of selling it on - but it just seemed perfect for Matt.
Though I did worry about the term clergyman - was that too C of E?
Bless Matt he seemed very pleased.
And so it was time to go home.
We had to travel back to Crawley.
The late afternoon sun was lovely as we strolled back down Coxwell Street.


Pastor Matt in Cirencester
posted by Grandma P on Tuesday, July 14, 2009