Fr Philip, Janet, Ben & Samuel's
contact details are here

The Reverend Philip Banks writes
(December 2011):

Leaving Coggeshall

New Beginnings

News will have reached you that, after almost nine very happy years here, we are to move from Coggeshall for me to take up the post as one of the Residentiary Canons at the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

The first thing I want to say is that Janet and I, together with Ben and Samuel, have been so grateful for all the love, kindness, generosity and wisdom that we have received from you over these eight years – and it will, as you can imagine, be a huge wrench for us to leave such an amazing and thriving church family and community.  It has been such a great privilege to lead the church here and, in the wider diocese, to have been Rural Dean and to lead one of the diocesan courses. With you we have shared so much laughter and many tears, so many joys and some sadnesses, and we will be leaving behind a great many friends.  Not least, Coggeshall will always be dear in our hearts as it is here that our two children, Ben and Samuel, have grown up in their Primary years, and here where we have received so much support, not least following my father’s and Janet’s mother’s deaths. 

We are, of course, also very excited about the new start that awaits us in Bury, and to getting to know and work with friends yet unknown. It is a joy that we will be moving closer to the Rev’d Judith in the diocese which covers the county of Suffolk, and we very much hope that you will be able to visit us in Bury St Edmunds once we have settled – it is not all that far away, as our choir well know!  And – most important – we would be so pleased if you can come to support us on the day of my installation service in the Cathedral. This will be at 3.30pm on Sunday 19^th February 2012. 

Looking to the future, there will be more details in later editions of The Link about arrangements in the parish and for the process of appointing a new priest.  During a vacancy the responsibility for the running and organisation of all church matters and services rests with the churchwardens, John and Derek – how lucky we are to have such reliable, thoughtful and caring wardens. However, they will need your support in all the tasks that lie ahead of them! You are also very blessed with a marvellous ‘ministry team’ (Rosemary, Penny, Graham, Hannah and Philip) and the support of Fr Barry and Fr Bill when they are able. Rosemary will continue her curacy here and, together with the churchwardens, will have the support of your new Rural Dean, the Very Rev’d Philip Need from St Mary's in Bocking.

 In this season of Advent anticipation, we look to the God who brings love, new life, new birth and healing in his wings at Christmas. The days ahead for us will ones of anticipation at new things, and for everyone in Coggeshall the joyful anticipation, in the fullness of time, of new beginnings again with a new priest. 

Philip

St Peter's choir visit to Bury St Edmunds, 2010

Some brief biographical notes...

• Philip has served as Rector of Marks Hall and Vicar of Coggesghall since July 2003, and as Rural Dean since 2008.

• Prior to this, Philip was Bishop of Chelmsford's Chaplain and Media Officer, and also the priest at Elmstead Market. He served his curacy in the early 1990s in Chelmsford and Brentwood, and before ordination was a Chartered Surveyor, latterly working for a local authority as Principal Estates Surveyor in Hertfordshire.

• He and Janet were married in Wanstead in 1987 and Ben and Samuel were born in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

• Click here for a link to the Cathedral website

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First Communion, Easter 2011