Revd Chris Bennett to take part–time post in St Clements
Revd Chris Bennett speaks about his appointment as the part–time minister of St Clement’s church in Templemore Avenue, just a stone’s throw away from the Titanic Quarter. The appointment will come into effect in May.
“Why is this good news for Dock–world, I hear you cry? Am I deserting the Titanic Quarter? Not a bit of it… part of my role from the very beginning of The Dock has been to find a viable long–term part–time post which would be a solid foundation and support for the more experimental, ‘out–there’ work in the TQ. If you’ve been around The Dock for a while you’ll remember that for the first year of its existence I did something similar, filling in as temporary minister in Carrowdore and Millisle parish during their vacancy; last year, my tour–guiding with Titanic Walking Tours was a different (and fabulously stretching and challenging) way to make ends meet while The Dock project made its way forward.
“The great news about St Clements is that it has come along at exactly the right time: The Dock is entering a whole new era. Over the next few weeks I’m hoping to be able to break news which has been long–in–the–making, has involved loads of behind–the–scenes work by many fantastic people, and which will take the whole project to another level. Once that all happens, there’s no turning back: The Dock Is Out There. It’s no longer a guy wandering the TQ asking people if they’ll share a coffee and a brainstorm for the future of church in the TQ. We’ll be living out the dreams and visions that emerged during those coffee–fuelled (and, we pray, Spirit–inspired!) early days.
“My work with St Clements will be a great, reliable foundation–stone under it all. And it’ll be great fun too – I’ve visited the place a few times as guest preacher, and they’re lovely! – and being right there in East Belfast there are all sorts of shipyard connections, families with tales to tell. I can’t wait to bring all the St Clementians (hmm, might have to think of a new name) to see all that’s happening in the TQ – and to find new ways for the TQ gang to make the return trip as well.”