It all began in the summer of 2006.

We asked The Reverend Jenny Deverill how an idea turned into a reality.

When I retired from a very busy life as a Hospital Chaplain in a large South London hospital, together with being an Honorary Curate in my local church, in 2006 I was given permission to officiate in the chaplaincy in Marseilles.  Sometime after, I was asked by Bishop David whether there would be scope for developing a regular Eucharistic worship closer to where I live here in the Gard.  Maybe I could use a local church building and attract English speakers.  I had for sometime believed that I was being called to fill a need for an English speaking worshipping community.  

The time was right.

This area in France has had a very tortuous past church history as it was once the stronghold of the Huguenot world i.e. Protestants.  The strong divisions between Roman Catholics and Protestants are beginning to break down and the churches are working together much more.

How was I going to get this English speaking church in this part of France started?

I met with Pasteur Unger, the Pasteur of our local Evangélique Reformée Temple.  Although neither of us spoke the other’s language very well, he was completely welcoming and encouraging. Our relationship with him and his Assemblée has always been one of great generosity and co-operation.  For that we are very grateful.  We give an annual donation to the Assemblée to cover the costs for our use of the Temple. 

Our Congregation gathers.

Having acquired the use of premises, I asked four friends if they would be interested in working with me to start to pray, plan and work towards our first service which was 14th October 2006.  Living in such a rural area we made the decision to commence with a Harvest Festival service.  We were more than delighted when 40 people attended.  Our regular attendance now can be up to about 55 including a few children who attend Sunday school.  We are delighted that our Carol Service usually attracts about 100 people, English and French together.

Sunshine all the way.

I was absolutely thrilled when on a visit to the Diocese in Europe headquarters in London Bishop David suggested that we should become part of the Diocese in Europe.  On the 14th October 2007, one year after our first service, Bishop David visited us and inaugurated us into the Diocese.  At this service we also had our first confirmation of an adult member of the congregation.  I was also celebrating ten years of my Priesthood.  I was made acting Priest in charge.  Following the service we had our first formal meeting, appointing Church officers and a Church Council.  The day was rounded off with a magnificent lunch outside at Béthanie, a property nearby, in the sunshine.  A cake was cut to mark the occasion.

The Reverend Jennifer Deverill with Bishop David Hamid at the inauguration of St. Michaels Anglican Congregation in the Gard		Members of the Congregation gather outside the church after the service

St. Michael was the name that we chose as our Patron Saint.

We had begun our church life here in the Gard in Michaelmas.  We were accepted into the Diocese of Europe at Michaelmas.  I was ordained at Michaelmas and I am also an Associate of St. Michael’s  Convent of the Anglican order of the Sisters of the Church in Ham London.  As we worship on the first Sunday of the month we now celebrate our Patronal Festival annually on the first Sunday of October.    

The English Speaking Church in this part of France comes of age.

On 29th March 2008, the Archdeacon of France, Father Kenneth Letts, installed me as Priest-in-charge at
St. Michael’s.  It was a very moving and wonderful day for myself and all of us at St. Michael’s.  We were delighted that the ministers and some of their members of the local churches joined with us in our celebration. We have been made very welcomed by the other denominations locally.  It felt at last we could now settle down and go forward in the chaplaincy life here in the Gard.

God is good.

We give our heartfelt thanks to God and the Diocese in Europe, for this wonderful opportunity to witness to our faith in a foreign country, to build up a worshipping community from so many parts of the world with a mixture of denominations, as we continue our own personal spiritual journey, day by day, knowing that all is possible only through the power of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.