REGINA — At the end of May, and arriving in time for the celebration of the birthday of the Church, at Pentecost, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle was delighted to welcome a delegation from our companion Diocese of Lichfield in the Church of England.
The visit was an opportunity to renew long-standing friendships, deepen our companion diocesan relationship, and share in one another’s ministry, worship and mission. Bishop Adelbert Anson was a priest from the Diocese of Lichfield, called to be the first bishop of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in 1884. Our links go back right to our beginnings!
The delegation this year was made up of Bishop Michael Ipgrave (the 99th diocesan bishop of Lichfield) and his wife Julia; Bishop Matthew Parker (the suffragan bishop of Stafford) and his wife Sarah; Jeremey Lowe (an agricultural chaplain) and Rev. Prebendary (canon) Cath Brumfitt (a parish priest from Lichfield).
Throughout their time in our part of Saskatchewan, our friends from Lichfield experienced both the richness and diversity of ministry across the Diocese of Qu’Appelle while sharing stories of God’s work in their own communities.
The delegation spent time in a variety of parish and diocesan settings, meeting clergy and lay leaders, worshipping with congregations, and learning about the unique challenges and opportunities of ministry across our vast rural and urban landscape.
They experienced the warmth and generosity for which the Diocese of Qu’Appelle is so well known, enjoying fellowship at dinners, parish visits, and community and diocesan events — including a clergy day at the cathedral.
Conversations ranged across many aspects of church life: discipleship, leadership development, indigenous issues awareness and reconciliation, ministry in rural communities, evangelism, stewardship, and the changing role of the Church and ministry in contemporary society. While our contexts differ in many ways, it was striking how many of our hopes and challenges are shared.
The visit also provided opportunities for prayer and worship together. Whether gathered around the Lord’s Table, sharing Morning Prayer, or simply praying in conversation, we were reminded that our unity is rooted not in geography but in our common calling as members of the Body of Christ.
One of the greatest gifts of companion links is the opportunity to listen. We often discover fresh perspectives simply by seeing our own ministry through the eyes of others. Our visitors were encouraged by the resilience, faithfulness, and missional imagination they encountered throughout Qu’Appelle.
In turn, they shared inspiring examples of ministry and outreach from the Diocese of Lichfield that will continue to inform our own thinking and strategic planning for mission and ministry.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to continue praying for one another and to strengthen the bonds between our dioceses. Relationships such as these remind us that the Anglican Communion is at its best when we learn from one another, encourage one another, and seek together the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
As Bishop Helen Kennedy reflected during the visit, companion links are not simply about exchanging visits; they are about discovering how God is calling us to walk together in faith, hope, and love.
There will be many opportunities ahead to continue to strengthen these ongoing bonds of affection between our two dioceses, not least as Archdeacon Jonathan Bauer attends the final service of Bishop Michael in Lichfield this September, and as we prepare to send representatives from Qu’Appelle to Lichfield, when the time comes, for the enthronement of the 100th Bishop of Lichfield.