Our Minister
Our Church called the Reverend Helen Higgin-Botham, previously the minister at Gosport URC St. Columba, to be our minister and leader at our Church in Pagham. The Elders agreed to the scoping of Pagham United Reformed Church at 25% owing to our smaller congregation numbers in relation to Helen’s other new ministry of 75% at Christ Church Methodist & United Reformed Church, Chichester.
Helen commenced her ministry with us and at Christ Church on 1st July 2020 and her formal induction Service for Christ Church, Chichester and our Church at Pagham was held on Sunday 13th September 2020. The ‘open air’ service was held in Priory Park, Chichester, and was presided over by the Moderator, Bridget Banks, with the Reverend Kenneth Lynch, in his role, as interim moderator for the local churches, welcoming everybody and taking an active part in the proceedings. We were blessed with perfect weather for this special Service and around 80 people of all ages were in attendance. This included a number of Civic dignitaries who attended the service to formally welcome Helen to her new parishes.
Helen commenced her ministry with us and at Christ Church on 1st July 2020 and her formal induction Service for Christ Church, Chichester and our Church at Pagham was held on Sunday 13th September 2020. The ‘open air’ service was held in Priory Park, Chichester, and was presided over by the Moderator, Bridget Banks, with the Reverend Kenneth Lynch, in his role, as interim moderator for the local churches, welcoming everybody and taking an active part in the proceedings. We were blessed with perfect weather for this special Service and around 80 people of all ages were in attendance. This included a number of Civic dignitaries who attended the service to formally welcome Helen to her new parishes.
Induction of
Reverend Helen Higgin-Botham
Introducing myself, after being your Minister since July 1st, 2020, seems a little odd – but then nothing about the months in-between now and then has been normal!
When I first accepted the invitation to become the Minister of the Chichester Pastorate, I had little idea of the challenges it would create, not least being able to ‘get to know’ members of the congregation. The few meetings I had and the services I was able to take in-between lockdowns seemed not nearly enough to feel established, and I was only able to have a tantalising view of the Pagham URC you all know and love.
Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and later this year will hopefully see the easing of lockdown. It may not be a case of returning back to the normality we enjoyed prior to Covid-19 hitting our shores, but, for me, it will be a long waited for opportunity to get to know you and for you to get to know me. Sadly, there are some I will never be able to meet because they have passed away, but their memory lives on in those who remember them – and at the very core of the Pagham church is a heart and a will to be Christ’s body, his disciples in community, of that I am quite certain.
May God bless you and keep you safe until we meet.
Yours in Christ, Helen <><
When I first accepted the invitation to become the Minister of the Chichester Pastorate, I had little idea of the challenges it would create, not least being able to ‘get to know’ members of the congregation. The few meetings I had and the services I was able to take in-between lockdowns seemed not nearly enough to feel established, and I was only able to have a tantalising view of the Pagham URC you all know and love.
Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and later this year will hopefully see the easing of lockdown. It may not be a case of returning back to the normality we enjoyed prior to Covid-19 hitting our shores, but, for me, it will be a long waited for opportunity to get to know you and for you to get to know me. Sadly, there are some I will never be able to meet because they have passed away, but their memory lives on in those who remember them – and at the very core of the Pagham church is a heart and a will to be Christ’s body, his disciples in community, of that I am quite certain.
May God bless you and keep you safe until we meet.
Yours in Christ, Helen <><
Helen is living at the manse at Chichester. Her work telephone number is 01243 771338. She will usually have Saturday off but messages can be left on her answerphone on this day.
