From Wellington to Wiverton
St Andrew’s Church in Langar was filled with representatives from the surrounding village communities, as well as the family and friends of the Revd David Rowe last Wednesday evening as he was Instituted by Bishop Paul Williams as Rector of Wiverton in the Vale, in the Deanery of East Bingham.
David and his wife Pixie have recently moved from Wellington, New Zealand where David was Dean of Wellington Cathedral and Archdeacon for Church Health and Growth in the Wellington Diocese from 2018. David is no stranger to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham however as he served as Diocesan Advisor in Evangelism from 1997 and subsequently as the Incumbent of St. Wilfrid’s, Wilford until he moved to be the Warden of Lee Abbey in 2008. Pixie has served as a Licensed Lay Minister for over thirty years and was ordained to the priesthood within the Anglican Church in New Zealand in 2020.
The Rt Revd Eleanor Sanderson, Suffragan Bishop of Hull and until recently the Assistant Bishop of Wellington, was present to warmly commend David for this new season of ministry in the Wiverton in the Vale benefice and he was presented to Bishop Paul by The Revd Mike Duff, on behalf of The Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) as Patron by rotation for this term of office. David and Pixie were welcomed by representatives from the wider community, including Emily Brown, Head Teacher for Langar CofE Primary School, and the Very Revd Nicola Sullivan, on behalf of the cathedral church of Southwell Minster. The Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Debbie Mason, was also in attendance. There was also an opportunity for David’s grandson, Sam, to offer prayer for the ministry and witness of his grandparents, on what was his ninth birthday.
Speaking after the service, Bishop Paul said ‘It was wonderful to share, with so many others this evening, in a joyful welcome for David and Pixie Rowe as David begins his new ministry as Rector. I know that he brings much experience and insight from his years of ministry in so many diverse settings but that most of all, he will bring a confidence and delight in the Lord, supporting the benefice as it continues to share growing disciples in new ways.’
Reflecting on the evening, David shared ‘It is such a joy to be back in Southwell and Nottingham. We are so, so grateful for the warmth and welcome from both the parish and Diocese. We were also overwhelmed by the turn out of friends and supporters from, literally, every season of ministry we have been in since 1980. The spread of food was amazing; the care and attention from folk across all the churches made us feel proud, and excited about beginning a new ministry here in Wiverton in the Vale.’
The Benefice of Wiverton in the Vale comprises the village communities of Colston Bassett, Tythby, and Cropwell Butler, Cropwell Bishop, Granby and Sutton, Elton on the Hill, Langar and Barnstone.