MEET THE FLEETNEYS

Colin Fleetney writes … We are both delighted to be members of the worshipping community of the Cathedral.   We live in Port Erin with our spaniel, ‘Bertie’, and for some years we were involved with the four Churches in Rushen.   Because for the past year I have been Priest- in- Charge of Holy Trinity, Patrick, we know every bump, however small, on the Sloc and onwards to Glen Maye, then to Patrick.   That was a journey of 13 miles and by joining the Cathedral staff I have increased our journey to 14 miles!   We’ll leave home 3 minutes earlier!  

 Joan was born in Douglas and comes from a Methodist family.   She was deeply involved with the work of Rosemount, now Trinity Methodist Church, for many years.   Joan became an Anglican in the Diocese of Canterbury and was confirmed in St. Dunstan’s, Cranbrook, in 1994.

 I am an Anglican from birth.   I was, however, trained as a steam locomotive engineer on the Southern Railway and then went to sea as a marine steam engineer.   I have experience of many types and size of ships from coasters and river paddle steamers, through to the old ‘Queen Mary’ of the Cunard Line.

 Leaving the sea, I became the Chief Engineer of a large psychiatric hospital. I  was ordained, and became the hospital’s assistant chaplain (as well as Engineer).   Then followed a time as the Team Vicar, under a Rector, of an eight-parish benefice of villages between Canterbury and Hythe.  During Archbishop Runcie’s time I was made a chaplain of Canterbury Cathedral.

I pray that we will all derive great benefit and comfort from this Lenten Season, as Lent is a time for recharging our spiritual batteries, for self-examination, and for regret for sins past – and for prayer in which we should ask for forgiveness.

We should then have the courtesy to accept God the Father’s forgiveness.   Then, by putting forgiven sins behind us, we can prepare and discipline ourselves by using the Stations of the Cross – and indeed all that the Church provides to prepare us for Holy Week, for Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter – the Day of Resurrection.