New Wellingborough vicar zooms into parish but lockdown flock must wait for face-to-face meetings

Rev Paula York moved from her previous Northamptonshire parish just before lockdown
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A Wellingborough vicar has taken up her new job as the parish priest at an online service but has yet to meet any of her parishioners in person due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Rev Paula York was to be licensed by the Bishop of Brixworth The Rt Revd John Holbrook at a joint celebration with her two churches - All Saints, Wellingborough in Midland Road and the town centre's All Hallows, Wellingborough, on April 19.

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As the date of the special service grew nearer, the huge gathering was at first scaled down and then eventually cancelled and moved online.

Paula, 52, who had been Rector for the parishes of Yardley Hastings, Grendon, Castle Ashby, Denton and Whiston, said: "My last service at Grendon turned out to be the last service the church has seen since the lockdown.

"Luckily, we moved to Wellingborough just before everything closed down. We had three weeks to settle in.

"At first we were going to have a joint service of 150 to 200 people with all the local groups and the mayor invited who usually welcome the new incumbent.

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"Then we scaled it down to fewer people and cut the refreshments. Eventually, it became obvious it couldn't go ahead and Bishop John offered to do the licensing via Zoom."

Rev Paula YorkRev Paula York
Rev Paula York

The service, complete with homily was presided over by the bishop in front of the church wardens from both churches, the Archdeacon of Northampton, her spiritual adviser, supporter Rev Jane Burns, and Paula's family - husband Chris and daughters Eleanor and Eve.

She said: "Before I arrived I had organised meetings with people which have been via Zoom or on the phone.

"When I go for my daily walk I wear my dog collar and say hello to as many people as I can - at a distance.

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"Since I've been here I have done three funerals. It's very hard because the only contact you have is on the phone.

The Zoom meeting allowed Paula to be licensed by the John Holbrook the Bishop of BrixworthThe Zoom meeting allowed Paula to be licensed by the John Holbrook the Bishop of Brixworth
The Zoom meeting allowed Paula to be licensed by the John Holbrook the Bishop of Brixworth

"I really now realise the importance of touch to comfort someone, just a hand on the arm cannot be done.

"Someone came to shake my hand at one funeral but I couldn't. You cannot be physically close."

The two churches are not unknown to Paula having completed a placement in the parish during her curacy at All Saints, Earls Barton

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As well as contacting all her new parishioners for a chat, for her first act of worship Paula has filmed a Prayer and Praise service of the Word and uploaded it to YouTube.

All Hallows Church, WellingboroughAll Hallows Church, Wellingborough
All Hallows Church, Wellingborough

Members of the congregation can also download an order of service to join in at home.

Paula, who was ordained in 2012, said: "I've had some really positive feedback. We have been able to reach people we didn't before. Some people have said 'at last church has come to me'.

"But church is not just about worship, it's also about fellowship. I want to celebrate communion with everybody so I have made the decision to celebrate communion until we can be together.

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"I'm really looking forward to meeting people in the flesh.

"There was one part of the licensing service that could wait, a formality, where the priest is installed into the priest seat. I hope that when we get back together we can have a party then."

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All Saints, WellingboroughAll Saints, Wellingborough
All Saints, Wellingborough

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