St. Mary Magdalene & St. Denys, Parish Church, Midhurst

Our Vicar : Midhurst Parish Church

Following a 6 month search, the churchwardens of the parishes of Midhurst and Woolbeding were delighted to be able to announce on Sunday 6th May, that they have been successful.   Fr Marcus Ronchetti has accepted an invitation from Bishop Lindsay to become our new priest. 

 

Fr. Marcus is currently the Vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Shoreham-by-Sea, where he has served the seaside community for 10 years.  We know from our own experience what a difficult and heart-wrenching time the next few months can be for both priest and parishioners in Shoreham, so please remember them in your prayers during this time.

 

It is hoped that we will be able to welcome him "north of the Downs" in the autumn. 

†   A  LETTER  FROM  OUR  NEW  VICAR  †

 

The Reverend Marcus Ronchetti writes – 06/05/07

 

 

My Dear (soon to be) Friends,

 

I send you greetings from the good people of Shoreham Beach, who are hearing about my move today, at the same time as you. Please pray for them as they adjust to change, as they will pray for you, as you learn to cope with me!

I have been here on the Beach for ten years, have been a priest for twenty-five, and this year celebrated my 50^th birthday.

I think it was late February that Bishop Lindsay wrote and asked me to come and have a look at Midhurst, and my mind, and indeed my life has been a whirl ever since.

My first visit to the beautiful church of St Mary Magdalene and St Denys inspired me to pursue the idea further. The stunning glass door at the west end had such a huge impact on me. I thought ‘Here are people with a sense of vision, and imagination, who have outreach in their hearts’

I asked for a Parish Profile, and received a brilliant description of life in the parish, full of diversity, and having a real sense of community. Well written and clear in its message, asking for someone to share your vision. With lots of schools work, and plenty of opportunity for preaching and teaching it was getting better and better.

And a Parish Office, with staff! And an excellent website. It is all too good.

 

Some weeks later, I had my official visit to meet with the churchwardens. You don’t need me to tell you what a great bunch they are. It was my first look inside All Hallows, Woolbeding, and I was just amazed at the simple beauty of it. I just love the fact that there is no electricity, and it is a place of prayer and peace and quiet.

I then asked David, the churchwarden at Woolbeding, what you were looking for in your new vicar, and he replied ‘We want someone who loves life’, and I thought ‘This is the place for me.’

 

I shall of course be sad to leave all my dear friends here on the Beach, and shall miss the sea, but I know I will be made very welcome in your community.

I am not sure when I shall be inducted, as I already have things in the diary that can’t be moved. I am doing a locum in the Anglican Chaplaincy in the Cost Blanca for the whole of September, but you may well see me around as I go through the process of moving into the Vicarage.

 

I am full of excitement about our future together, and I hope you are a little excited too.

 

Blessings all round,

Fr. Marcus