I thought that I had written my last Vicar’s letter when I left Eastleigh in 1993, but I’ve been ‘cajoled’ into doing one on the grounds that it is my turn to do so during Gary’s absence!

I would like to say three things: firstly, how much I have enjoyed spending more time in my own Parish taking services at St Mary’s and St Alban’s. It has given me the opportunity of getting to know you all the better and made me more aware of the great potential there is in this Parish.

Secondly, may I draw your attention to the service of rededication of St Alban’s on Sunday, 18th June, at 5,30p.m. to which the Bishop of Winchester will be coming. It is the culmination of many months of planning and much hard work by the contractors. Despite numerous setbacks and disappointments we have finally got there. Do join us if you can.

Thirdly, we shall be celebrating this month the festival of Whitsunday (or Pentecost) on Sunday, 4th June. It is on a par with Christmas and Easter in the Christian calendar and is when we give thanks for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, to each one of us individually and to the world.

Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us into all TRUTH, St Paul refers to the spirit as the source of UNITY, while the book of Acts tells us that the Spirit came when the disciples were all TOGETHER.