Vicar Chris gets Award for Sabbatical

Chris Burch has received a cheque for £600 from Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Ministry Awards scheme, to help towards the costs of his sabbatical.

The cheque was presented this morning (Shrove Tuesday, 16th Feb) by Liam Whelan, Ecclesiastical Insurance’s surveyor of churches in the Leicester and Derby areas. He said, “I don’t usually do this - in fact, I’ve never done it before! But it’s nice to be the bearer of good news, especially when it helps give one of the clergy a bit of extra space. Congratulations, Chris, and I hope it goes really well for you!”

Chris, who has also received a grant from the Diocese for his sabbatical, said, “This will cover my travel and other costs inside the USA, which I hadn’t really allowed for. Usually, when we ask for money from Ecclesiastical Insurance, it’s because something’s gone wrong. I’m delighted that they’ve given me this grant, and promise to enjoy spending it!”

When Liam asked Chris what there would be to show for his time out, the answer was - some musical settings of the Psalms and a model railway layout! (No surprises there…) “If I dedicate a Psalm setting to the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group,” he joked, “it’ll have to be Psalm 127.”

Liam Whelan presents the award cheque to Chris Burch

(PS Psalm 127 begins, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.”)