CANDLE ENLIGHTENS EUROPEAN CLERGY

A conference which brought together more than 140 clergy in the widespread Diocese in Europe found a spiritual focus in a church candle specially created for the event.

It was only the second time that all licensed priests and deacons had met in the diocese’s 29 year history. The theme of the conference in Cologne was “Entertaining Angels: Hospitality as Mission.” and included worship, bible study, teaching, and continuing education workshops.

When the Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev Geoffrey Rowell, visited the Anglican church in Freiburg  (Germany) earlier this year he met a church member - a German school teacher who makes candles as a hobby.  The bishop then commissioned her to produce a candle for the conference. After careful thought the Paschal Candle used in the chapel during the Pastoral Conference included many appropriate symbols.
Rev Robin Stockitt, Priest-in-Charge at Freiburg says “Among these were an open gate signifying hospitality and invitation (theme of the conference). Five angels are depicted in the colours of the five continents waiting to come in through the gate. The cross is shining with golden fibres and hologram. Blue is in Germany the colour of hope, harmony, contentedness, longing, yearning, aspiration.
“Closer inspection of the candle reveals a table with five loaves of bread and two fishes, the chalice, ears of corn and the Bible. It also bears the artist’s local trademark – the coat of arms for St. George and St. Boniface in Freiburg.”

The pictures show Bishop Geoffrey Rowell alongside the lighted candle in the chapel of Kardinal Schulte Haus in Cologne.

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