Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
July/August 2006

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Au revoir, Veronica

A conversation with Veronica Faulks on her departure from Barnes

When Veronica knew she was coming to Barnes in 1998 she was very excited: she knew that this where she wanted to be. She was the first woman minister we had ever had and the congregation were excited too. Working is always about 'we' – never just one person. She has made us more aware of Christian nurture and has tried to encourage people to balance their 'church energy' – all the busy things that need to be done - against nurture, prayer and thinking. We now have a What is our Faith? group. We have had Quiet Days, we have regular Bible Study. And our worship has moved on: it's about head and heart.

She has tried to set herself a goal for each year. Last year, when we were out of the church and worshipping in the Hall, it was about 'building community'. We sat next to a different person each week, we had our coffee in the same space where we had been worshipping and we got to know each other better. We also had a lot of fun – learning through play.
She has loved living in London. She particularly likes being able to get to the art galleries. Barnes is beautiful and the river is lovely. She has enjoyed the contrast between Barnes and Roehampton, where she is also the minister. She will miss the multi-culturalism of London and to see only white faces will be the downside of moving away.

Over all the time that Veronica has been here, Barnes Methodist church has either been talking about the redevelopment, raising money for the redevelopment or living with builders. Only in the last year have we been able to enjoy it. It's a very exciting time for us. Our visions were flexibility and welcome. The building is just a resource – the most important resource we've got. The redevelopment has shown us how to be a real church community. We are more aware of visitors and more eager as a comm-unity to show the rest of Barnes that we’re alive!

Veronica said that until you look back you can't say what each place did for you. But one of the things that Barnes has done is to give her back a sense of being Methodist.

As a congregation, we can only say 'thank you' for all she has done for us. She has taught us to worship with all of our senses. She had led us through excellent Bible Study courses and on meaningful Quiet Days. She has created wonderful Church Family Weekends. And she has been more than our minister: she has been a true friend.

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