Over the Ascensiontide weekend, I took the opportunity to visit three Italian chaplaincies that were formerly under the direct care of my suffragan and so were well overdue a visit from me as diocesan bishop. 

Archdeacon David Waller, my wife Helen and I began with Ascension Day prayers at St. George’s Venice with the Chaplain, The Very Revd. Lucinda Laird.  

Venice is, of course, a spectacularly beautiful city. Unfortunately, these days, increasingly fewer local residents can afford to live in the historic centre. People therefore travel significant distances from the ‘mainland’ to attend worship at St. George’s. Numbers are swelled by students and tourists and those seeking pastoral help or care. I was pleased to talk through with the Chaplain a form of ministry quite different to that in a more settled or gathered community. 

We flew from Venice airport to Catania in Sicily and from there by hire car past steaming Mount Etna to the steeply terraced town of Taormina, and its gorgeous Church – also named St. George’s. The church was built in 1922 and is connected to the Duke of Bronte, a descendant of the brother of Lord Nelson. 

The Church has been looked after for several decades by a small but dedicated group of lay people with the help of a rota of locum priests. In the last few months, Fr. Shawn Denney (far right) – who has a long association with the church - has agreed to be the pastoral lead priest for the chaplaincy, supported by his wife Mary Ann (serving drinks and talking with Archdeacon David Waller). Part of the reason for my visit was to celebrate this new phase in the provision of ordained ministry to the chaplaincy. 

The church was meticulously prepared and decorated for our visit. The bishop’s chair has been beautifully re-upholstered by a member of the congregation. 

The interior of the church contains numerous memorials to those fell in WW1 and those who fought to liberate Sicily in WW2. 

I was pleased to confirm two young Anglo-Italian cousins, both granddaughters of the church treasurer, and an American couple who have retired and made their home in this part of Sicily. 

On the Saturday evening, we flew back to Venice airport, and on Sunday morning, drove to St. Anthony Abbot, Padova (Padua). 

St. Anthony’s is a 95% Nigerian congregation, led by Canon Amos Osaromkpe, pictured here with his wife, Blessing and their lovely family. 

The Mothers Union is an evidently thriving part of the congregation, and I was delighted to admit two new members. The Mothers Union is dedicated to the support of marriage and family life, which has additional challenges for those living in a second country. 

After a joyful and exuberant act of worship, the congregation retired outside and into the shade for a community barbecue. 

In our diocese, chaplaincies pay their own clergy and have, to a large degree, to be self-supporting. One of the challenges for our diocese is how to support smaller congregations along with chaplaincies like Padova, whose members have restricted financial resources. 

In Italy, we hope very much to be able to benefit from money from central taxation, quite soon and possibly with effect from 2026. This will be of immense help to our smaller and more economically constrained congregations. 

Meanwhile, we are very thankful for those committed lay people and part-time or house-for-duty clergy who sustain ministry and congregational life in challenging circumstances. 

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