Jonathan

Prichard

Jonathan Prichard lives in Brighton where he works as Chichester Diocesan Secretary. He has previously worked for the Children's Society and is involved in various community organisations.

Chichester Magazine: Have you always had a sense of God and his call?

Jonathan Prichard: A local clergyman I knew well said that he thought he saw in me a natural faith. I believe this flows from my childhood which was spent overseas mainly within British communities where there were Anglican churches which as a family we attended. I recall how important those links were and the different interpretations of worship I experienced. The moment I left school and during school holidays I stayed in bed as any healthy teenager would rather than go to church with my parents. Yet through this period my father's quiet faith demonstrated (like those beside the Syrian sea) something which intrigued me and led me back to explore at university. Happily my college chapel was a centre of life and community so I was drawn in once again. And the rest is history. Sometimes when dealing day to day with people associated with churches it is difficult see where Jesus' command to love one another is expressed. But then wonderful examples of care concern love are shown and my own faith is renewed and fed.

CM: Why do you think churchgoing is a minority pursuit?

JP: One of the main reasons I believe church going has fallen away hugely is that people have got out of the habit and other secular habits have taken over: Sunday morning football; shopping; going somewhere for brunch with children and other families; television (remember the death of evensong caused by broadcasting of Upstairs Downstairs on Sunday evenings). So many calls on people's time especially at weekends mean that it is all too easy to get out of the church going habit - if it was ever there. Everyone has that motivation to discover and we need to offer a welcoming body of people for those who are searching. All too often congregations are unwelcoming for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes people are too busy greeting their friends after church to remember to link up with a new face.

CM: As leader in a Diocese what are the things that most encourage you? Or most challenge you?

JP: There are some wonderfully inspiring examples where the Spirit is moving in the diocese: in the faces of some of the young people at summer camp or how determinedly a gnarled elderly person insists on kneeling to pray before the Blessed Virgin Mary after Mass in my parish church. They demonstrate that everyone's life can and is being touched. Of course I and my colleagues continually face the demands created by the huge responsibilities for the heritage buildings bequeathed to us with too little resources. We must be practical and focus our talents and skills to solve the problems we identify but at the end of the day our efforts can only be effective if they reflect God's priorities. And the biggest challenge to all of us is to discern those!

CM: How do you keep close to the Lord?

JP: Other than the usual Sunday church going I have the great privilege of being able to attend regular Eucharist services held at Church House Hove and I try to attend licensing services for new clergy. I drive around Sussex and I find being alone in the car gives me time to pray about all that is on my heart when I can remember people or things that are happening. And I try to read a devotional book in Lent and Advent.

CM: Have you got any insight about how we best to spread the Christian faith?

JP: I am amazed how many Christians are involved with other organisations yet we do not proclaim our faith and counter all the deception of materialism, relativism, indifference to truth that we meet day by day. By our example we will encourage people to join us. I am a firm believer of sharing faith one to one and by example. Yet I also enjoy the big occasion - the annual renewal of ministerial commitment in Holy Week - they give me a buzz to continue.

CM: Jonathan, we are very grateful for what you have shared with our readers.