Comment (December/January 2009/2010)

Bishop’s Letter

with Bishop Martin Wharton

I wonder how many of you know that the paper hats in Christmas Crackers are in the shape of crowns because of the winter feasts in the days of the Roman Empire ? I wonder too how many of you know that mince pies are sweet because Parliament once banned the original English savoury minced meat Christmas pie ? This pie was rectangular in shape, by the way, to represent the Christmas crib.

But more of you will know that Oliver Cromwell once abolished Christmas altogether and the Church of England with it. These are things which happened in history that we tend not to think about today. But this Christmas-time let me suggest that perhaps we should pause for thought.

We can remember how many different cultures have contributed to our Christian Christmas festival. And just think how rich the lives of future generations might be, if the people of today could cease fighting and learn to live together peaceably and justly, with their, our, differences.

We can remember too that Parliament once banned something as harmless as a pie. And remember, therefore, that the open system of government that we enjoy here today, is not indestructible.

And yes we remember too that someone once got rid of the Church of England. For this year too, and next, we’ll hear about plans which might not openly mean to end the Church of England, but which might have that kind of effect.

Our Church has withstood many trials over the centuries and has come through them all. I believe that the grace of God being with her, she will come through the ones ahead.

But she only survived for us today because Christians of the past defended her breadth and her ability to encompass diversity under one pattern of governance, and because they stayed true to her.

This Christmas I hope we will remember that. After all, if God had not stayed true to us, if the Christ-child had not been born in whom all the fullness of God dwells, there would be no Christmas, and there would be no Church of England.

So let us give thanks once more for the coming nativity of Our Lord and let us resolve to be as true to Christ and to the Church he had given us, as God is always true to us.

God bless you all and give you a blessed Christmas.