Bishop Dominic writes

When I was elected Bishop of Monmouth I was told that the diocese was exploring a companion link with the Diocese of the Highveld and that I would need to be in contact with their bishop, David Beetge. Then a few weeks later, quite unexpectedly, we found ourselves sitting next to one another in Canterbury Cathedral for the enthronement of Archbishop Rowan. It was in Canterbury that Bishop David and I first met and in Canterbury where we said good-bye after the Lambeth Conference. His death a few weeks later came as a great shock.

I hear some bishops telling stories of the difficulties they have with diocesan links, but ours has been a complete joy. Bishop David and I agreed that we would visit one another every other year and being together each year forged a deep friendship which was one of David's great gifts. David and Carol stayed with me before the Lambeth Conference and I stayed with them and enjoyed their generous hospitality. Bishop David's leadership of the diocese was impressive. In a place where HIV/AIDS is so prevalent, he made huge efforts to gain funding for projects and he also set up a diocesan programme to train people to care for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS including a care centre for children.

Churches in the Highveld will often have congregations of 500 or more and their Sunday services may well last over three hours. New churches are being built and there are young clergy. Although many of the people are materially poor, they are spiritually rich. Bishop David helped to set up a number of feeding programmes and he spoke to me of how he would like to do something to help the street children.

Bishop David was the Dean of the Church of the Province of South Africa which means he was the senior bishop and I know the Archbishop of Cape Town relied on him for support and advice. David also co-chaired an international Anglican - Roman Catholic Commission on mission, and living near to Johannesburg airport enabled him to fly all over the world and also enabled people to visit him. His visitor's book was a witness to the wide range of church leaders and politicians who stayed with him and his wife Carol.

Bishop David was a theologian who saw the importance of theological education and how orthodoxy (right thinking) leads to orthopraxis (right action), so when I invited him to suggest a project we might support from our Lent Appeal, he asked for a room at the cathedral to be equipped for educating people for ministry. He suggested that it be called The Monmouth Room.

The Diocesan Council of the Highveld unanimously agreed to renew our link for another five years and a few weeks later our Diocesan Conference also unanimously agreed to do the same. The Conference also agreed with my suggestion that The Monmouth Room be called The Bishop David Beetge Room given in his memory by the Diocese of Monmouth.

I am grateful to Father Patrick Coleman who went to South Africa to represent our diocese at Bishop David's funeral and I know how much the people there have appreciated our prayers and sympathy at such a great loss. In many ways it has strengthened our love for one another. Please pray for Carol and for the diocese as they prepare to elect a new bishop - probably in the New Year.

+ Dominic

Fr Elija Koloti being inducted into St. Peter's Chains in Katlehong, the link Parish of Caldicot Benefice, following the sad and sudden death in February of Fr Sindile Sithole. We celebrate with them as they emerge from a dark period in their Christian pilgrimage.

Revd Dennis Richards