The Community Welcomes our New Vicar
4th August 2008
At 7.54pm the sound of one church bell being chimed ten times echoed across Lyneham and Bradenstoke villages, marking a sign that we have a new ministry. The newly installed The Reverend Jesse Holland had just finished pulling the bell rope and chirpily the Bishop of Ramsbury The Rt Revd Stephen Conway calls over a packed congregation "A few more please!". The Bishop of Ramsbury, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, the Ven John Wraw, Arch Deacon of Wiltshire and the Revd Thomas Woodhouse, Rural Dean of the Calne Deanery conducted the Licensing and Installation Service.

It was announced on June 29th, that The Reverend Jesse Holland would be appointed as Vicar of Lyneham with Bradenstoke. Jesse, aged 42, is married to Judith and they have three boys, Jordan, aged 15, Lloyd, aged 12 and Elliot, aged 9.

Ordained as a Deacon in 1998 , Jesse served as a curate at Thundersley, Essex until 2002 when he became Priest in Charge at North Kenn in Exeter and then in 2006 he was appointed vicar for the Buller Anglican Parish in the Nelson Diocese of New Zealand, before being designated as Priest in Charge of our village church St Michael and All Angels and St Mary's Church Bradenstoke.

Interregnum
With the retirement of our former vicar The Revd. Anthony Fletcher on the 31st October 2007, the Parish entered a period without an Incumbent; in other words, there is a vacancy and the time between the departure of the one and the arrival of another is usually referred to as an Interregnum.

During this Interregnum, arrangements were put in place for the life of the Parish to continue, with other Clergy taking the services, and the Churchwardens being responsible for the practical aspects of maintaining the buildings and ensuring that Parish life continues as normal. The PCC continued to meet, and was chaired by the Lay Chair, Hester Wall. The Revd Michael Pain (retired) was Priest in Charge during the interregnum with the Archdeacon of Wiltshire and the Rural Dean of the Calne Deanery maintaining an oversight and a continual source of advice and guidance.

The process of filling the vacancy took place with the permission of the Patron of the living, the Lord Chancellor.  The Parochial Church Council of Lyneham with Bradenstoke and the Open Door Team, Calne, were tasked by the Archdeacon of Wiltshire, the Ven John Wraw and the Rural Dean to provide a Portfolio setting out the needs and aspirations of the Parish and the aims and objectives of the Fresh Expressions post with oversight of the Open Door church plant.  The document which is called "The Portfolio of the Parish of Lyneham with Bradenstoke and the Open Door, Calne" is available here as a PDF file for anyone who wishes to read it.

The Service took place at St. Michael and All Angels’ Church, Lyneham on Monday 4th August 2008, in the evening witnessed by a packed congregation from the Parish of Lyneham and Bradenstoke, members of Open Door plus many other visitors, including 7 members from the new priest’s old congregation in Exeter. The service was the Licensing and Installation of The Reverend Jesse Marvin Sean Holland as Priest-in-Charge of Lyneham with Bradenstoke and Deanery Missioner with oversight for the Open Door Deanery Church Plant. The formal occasion was conducted with an air of openness in a lighthearted spirit and joyous mood to celebrate the arrival of a new ministry.

During the service a brief introduction of Jesse was read out by the Ven. John Wraw, Archdeacon of Wiltshire, he firstly welcomed Jesse and his family to the community mentioning that he did not think it would be necessary to go half way round the world to New Zealand to find our new priest and he was glad that  Jesse was in this country during the selection interviews although the interview panel would probably have been quite happy to fly out to New Zealand. Jesse said in his profile, he aims to bring a vision to integrate the church for every generation, and to bring a heart for church to people in his pastoral care.

The Bishop thanked Jesse for his presentation and for the prayer and discernment that lie behind it and asked "Churchwardens and people of this Benefice, members of Open Door and representatives of the Deanery, do you welcome Jesse?", which was endorsed by a congregation saying 'We do!'

During an interactive and mobile service, the new priest was escorted around the church to carry out various acts to signify the way of pilgrims on a journey and companions on a road, helping each other walk the mile and bear the load. He took a vessel of water from a lay person then poured it into the font. The Archdeacon and Priest then moved to the Chancel Steps to continue the service and a bible, chalice and paten were presented to the priest. A scallop shell was presented and carried throughout the rest of the service, a symbol of pilgrimage and mission.

The Bishop read out the Licensing and Installation certificate to Jesse Holland:
I Stephen, by Divine Permission, BISHOP OF RAMSBURY, Area Bishop appointed for this purpose under the Diocese of Salisbury Area Scheme 1981.

To my beloved in Christ Jesse Marvin Sean Holland Clerk Greeting Whereas the Benefice of Lyneham with Bradenstoke within the Diocese and Jurisdiction of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury now stands vacant I do hereby grant you licence and authority to serve during the pleasure of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury or until the admission of an incumbent to the said benefice which ever period shall be shorter as PRIEST-IN-CHARGE of the said benefice and to perform all ecclesiastical duties belonging to that Office and also as DEANERY MISSIONER for the Deanery of Calne with oversight of the Open Door Deanery Church Plant and to preach the Word of God, to read the Common Prayers and minister the Holy Sacrament and otherwise to exercise the ministry of your Order at any time and place within the Deanery of Calne at which the Incumbent or other competent authority shall assent to your officiating.

In TESTIMONY whereof I hereunto set my hand and the Episcopal Seal of The Lord Bishop is hereunto affixed this Fourth day of August in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and eight. Signed + Stephen Ramsbury

The Bishop delivered the Licence to Jesse, saying to him ”Receive this Cure of Souls, this is both yours and mine; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. He was then escorted to the south entrance, the main door, with the Churchwardens and the Archdeacon laid Jesse's hand on the door and Jesse was handed the keys of our churches as a token of the responsibility which he and the Churchwardens share. For the last part of the service they moved swiftly to the western part of the church to the Bell Tower in which Jesse tolled the bell as a sign of the start of his ministry.

The new Priest in Charge was welcomed by representatives of the Church and Community introduced by the Rural Dean Thomas Woodhouse, Rural Dean of Calne. Introductions and welcoming messages were made with the representatives meeting Jesse and his family. The Chair to the Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council, Malcolm Petch, lead the greetings and was joined by the Station Commander to Royal Air Force Lyneham, Group Captain Mike Neville. Other dignitaries and representatives of the local community who passed on their celebratory and hospitable wishes to the Priest included Mrs Doris Turner, who was representing the people and devotees of Lyneham Village Hall, and Mrs Shirley Smith representative for Bradenstoke Village Hall.

The Bishop and Priest invited the congregation to share refreshments after the service, where every person leaving the church passed on their congratulations and individual welcoming messages to Jesse and his family. The reception in the Church Hall was well attended, where the congregation joined members of the Church for light refreshments and drinks.

A celebration speech was made by the Archdeacon to raise a glass in toasting Jesse and his family and thanking all those involved in preparing the food and drinks for the reception. It was noted that the Bishop raised his glass, which incidentally had a bunch of the finest flowers in, which caused an invigorating session of laughter for everyone present.
Editorial: with thanks to Cindy Bent