<![CDATA[St. Michael and All Angels Sandhurst

<![CDATA[St. Michael and All Angels Sandhurst - Rev John Castle\'s Blog]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:34:26 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[What next?]]>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:30:33 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/what-nextFor those who'd like to know a little more about what I'll be doing after Sandhurst, here's an extended version of what I wrote in our February newsletter.

After 21 years in Sandhurst, George and I will be moving to Aldenham, a village between Watford and Radlett, where I will be the part-time Vicar of the church of John the Baptist. The title of the post is "House for Duty Vicar". This means that I won't get a stipend (aka salary), but will get to live in the vicarage rent-free in return for working on Sundays and two other days in the week.

The church has a small but enthusiastic congregation who are keen to grow and involve more families. The nearest state school is in Radlett, but there are private schools in the parish, a social club and a golf club. My brief is to help this proudly traditional congregation to reach out to new and younger people. The Bishop assures me that they are up for the challenge – and so am I! The church has 2 services per Sunday, at 10.30 and 6.30 pm. At the moment the morning services on 2 Sundays out of 4 are from the Book of Common Prayer. A key part of my work at the start will be to get to know the people of Aldenham village, and especially to make contact with families. I shall miss having our wonderful Family Worker Sarah Bishop helping me! Then we'll have to see what we can provide in terms of worship and social events that will help families to get connected with the church - and, more importantly, with God!

Music is also very important to the people of St John’s Aldenham. In addition to the weekly choral evensong, sung by a choir of four members, the church hosts a monthly concert of classical music on Saturday mornings, often given by students from London music colleges, preceded by coffee and cake. I'm hoping to use my musical experience to help the church develop its links with the community through music.

My last Sunday at St Michael’s will be 12th April, and my licensing service in Aldenham will be on 5th May. George and I will value your prayers for us as we pack up and prepare to move to a new community and church. And we will certainly be praying for you all as you navigate the period of the vacancy here. A vacancy draws on the commitment of key members of the church, and is also an opportunity for others to get more involved - "all hands to the pump" etc!

Be warned: the vacancy will not be short - it never is in the Church of England! The Parochial Church Council (PCC) will need to draw up a Parish Profile, and get it approved by the Diocese, before they can move to advertising the post. There are various official meetings, governed by law, which have to take place as part of this process. It's a good opportunity for people at St Michael's to focus on what this church's mission is, not just in general terms but in practical ones - what are we doing that is good, what is missing from our "offer", how can we make more of an impact for God's Kingdom in our community? And what sort of person should St Michael's be looking for to lead them into the future that God is planning for you all? Please be aware, Jesus Christ and St Paul are not available for the post! - you will need to be realistic, and prayerfully identify the particular skills, experience and vision that a new Rector will need to bring. They won't be good at everything!

In the meantime, the practical aspects of running St Michael's will be taken care of by the Vacancy Steering Group, led by James Mason. Please give them all your support, and take this opportunity to make your contribution in time, talents and money, so the mission of St Michael's church can continue and grow.

]]><![CDATA[Moving on]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:16:42 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/moving-onThere comes a moment in the life of every parish when it’s time for a change of leadership. George and I have been here at St Michael’s for 21 years, and we now feel that the time is right for us to move on, and for St Michael's to look for a new Rector. So I will be stepping down from the role of incumbent shortly after Easter.

We’ll be very sad to leave you all, as this church has become part of who we are. But we’ll certainly keep in touch and pray for you all, particularly over the months of vacancy, while you go through the recruitment process, which I’m afraid is rather long and arduous in the Church of England.

We’ll be moving in April to the parish of Aldenham, near Watford, where I will take up the part-time role of Team Vicar within a Team ministry that includes two other parishes. I will be responsible for the parish of St John the Baptist, Aldenham. The role will involve Sundays and two weekdays, which will give me more time to spend with George, including some cheap flights to South Africa to see our son Adam, his wife Marjoli and their little boy Joshua. I’m also hoping to be studying for a part-time MA from September, and doing some in-depth Bible teaching in the diocese of St Albans.

There are some who have already been speculating about how long it would be before I move on, but for others this news will come as a bit of a shock. However, there are still 3 months to go, and I will be working with the PCC and other leaders to make sure that the parish is in a good position to carry on the work of worship and mission during the period of the vacancy. And our Area Dean, Laura, and Archdeacon Stephen will ensure that other clergy will be available to assist John White and Jane Kraft.

Please pray for George and me, and also for everyone here at St Michael’s facing a year of change. The important thing to remember is that this is God’s church, and he will be there to guide and empower us for whatever he wants us to be doing in 2026. May God bless us all.

]]><![CDATA[How bad can this get?]]>Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:17:12 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/how-bad-can-this-get

It will soon be two years since the terrible, horrendous attack of 7th October 2023 by the terrorist group Hamas on unsuspecting and defenceless Israeli civilians. The perpetrators of this genocidal act showed no mercy and had no respect for young or old.

More than 1,200 people were murdered, and over 250 taken hostage. And most countries of the world agreed that the Israeli govenment had a right to respond to protect the lives of its citizens.

Since then, with a few let-ups, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) have bombarded the Gaza strip, reducing large swathes of residential accommodation to rubble, and destroying hospitals. They have forced huge sectors of the Palestinian population to move within the territory. Tens of thousands have been killed.

How do you fight a war with terrorists who hide among the civilian population? A very difficult task. Modern warfare doctrine allows for the fact that in targeting combattants, there may be "collateral damage" involving civilians. When British troops fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, every effort was made to minimise civilian casualties. Can the same really be said of the IDF?

Moreover, according to United Nations sources, Israel has severely restricted flow of food and medical supplies, including a total blockade of nearly 3 months from March this year of anything entering Gaza. Many people are literally dying of starvation - an entirely man-made disaster.

Supporters of the Israeli government may believe its denials, and as the Israeli government does not allow foreign journalists to enter the Gaza Strip, we have to choose whom to believe. I get my news from the BBC, and you can read more about this whole situation here, if you are willing.

Every time I hear the latest reports on the BBC, I am sickened, and can only bear to listen for a few minutes. I have written to our MP and had a sympathetic response. Our government has blocked arms sales to Israel. But is this enough? There have been words of condemnation. Most politicians are reluctant to use the word "genocide" to describe the Israeli government's deliberate policy of starving the population of Gaza. But I cannot see any more mercy or respect for human life in Mr Netanyahu's policies than in the actions of Hamas. Israel's Government has publicly declared that they will do anything to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, and are encouraging Israeli settlers to take more land in the West Bank to help make a "two state solution" impossible.

Our Government labelled Hamas a terrorist organisation - absolutely rightly. What description do you think fits the Netanyahu government?

You may ask why I am writing this - shouldn't I be saying something "spiritual" in my blog? The Bible tells us repeatedly that God hates injustice, and is on the side of the oppressed. The prophets of the Old Testament didn't complain only about Israel worshipping other gods. They also railed against injustice and oppression. Look up Isaiah 1:16-17 and 5:7, Amos 2:6-8 and 5:10-15 as examples. As Christians, we are called to be "salt and light" in this world, not hiding our light under a bushel. Throughout history the followers of Jesus have fed the hungry, healed the sick, abolished slavery and brought about legal reforms in our country to protect the vulnerable and safeguard human dignity. We may feel powerless, but we cannot in Christian conscience turn a blind eye. What will you do? Here are some suggestions: get informed about the situation and its history, pray, write to our MP, give money to reputable aid agencies, talk about this with friends and family.

He has told you, o mortal, what is good:
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

]]><![CDATA[No new blogs to show at present]]>Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/general-election-2019-a-christian-response<![CDATA[Remembering Margaret]]>Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:49:40 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/remembering-margaretMy mother, Margaret Castle, died peacefully on Wednesday 12th July 2023 at Willow Gardens Care Home, Yateley. Her funeral is on Wednesday 2nd August at 11.30 am in St Michael's Church, and all are welcome - no specific dress code required (the family won't be in black). If you can't join us in person, you are welcome to watch the service live on YouTube: just click on this link to access the service. You can find it in advance and bookmark it (or save it as a favourite) so you can come back to it later. A big thank you to Rupert Cremer-Evans who has set up this page and will be operating the live-stream on the day.

After the service, we'll be having a light buffet for anyone who'd like to attend at Hampshire Lakes, Hammond Way, Yateley, GU46 7AG. You can find it on Google Maps here. This will take place in the Bistro - just ask at Reception.

Many people have asked how I am and given their condolences. Thank you for your kindness.

Anyone who would like to give a donation in honour of Margaret is asked to visit my JustGiving page to donate to one of her favourite charities. Thank you!
]]><![CDATA[A new normal?]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:13:20 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/a-new-normalIn her sermon on Pentecost Sunday, Rev Jane Kraft talked about change. As we emerge from the current Covid-19 crisis, she said, “in many ways life will be different from the way it was before. They are calling it the new normal.”

Change can inspire both fear and excitement, depending on how we view the change in question, and how confident we feel about adjusting to it. The Covid lockdown was forced upon us, but we have seen individuals and companies responding in many creative ways: factories re-purposed to produce ventilators, home-made masks and other PPE, neighbours shopping for those who are self-isolating, and clergy learning new skills in broadcasting technology!

Other spin-offs include reduced pollution from traffic, industry and air travel, nature has had a brief respite from some harmful human activities, and people re-connecting with God and/or with church in new ways.

So what could the “new normal” be like for us as individuals, as a local church, as a country, and globally? Jane observed in her sermon that in the Bible, “whenever God’s Spirit acts, things change”. If we hoist our sails to the wind of the Holy Spirit, where might he drive us? What kind of “new normal” would we like to create?

I would like to invite all of us to reflect on the past few months, and to listen to God as we pray about how life might be in the near, medium and more distant future. One area that desperately needs change is our stewardship of the environment. As a church we can do practical things like using more eco-friendly cleaning products, and keeping areas of the churchyard free for wildlife (see June newsletter). But we also need to change some of our thinking, e.g. about walking or cycling instead of driving, switching to electric vehicles, considering the environmental impact of our lifestyle and travel.

Our Sunday live-streamed worship services have reached people who wouldn’t otherwise have attended church. How can we use technology in the future to reach those who still won’t be able to get to our church building for whatever reason, or people who find it hard to attend a house group because of childcare or other issues? The lockdown prompted us to set up regular pastoral contact with people by phone. It would be great if we can make pastoral care for all members of our church community part of the “new normal” – and extend this to neighbours and the wider community in our town.

With change comes challenge. We may have to let go of some things in order to embrace others. Our church income has been severely hit by the lockdown. St Paul, reflecting on his own experiences of shortage and of plenty told the Philippians that “my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The PCC would love to hear from everyone reading this about your experiences of the Covid lockdown, and about your hopes and worries for the future. Please reflect, pray and discuss with others how God might be leading us to carry out his mission as we respond to changes in the world and seek to create a “new normal” that will reflect the values of God’s kingdom. Please send your comments to me, the churchwardens or another PCC member, or leave a comment below.

Let’s face the future with hope and with confidence in our God whose love is unending and whose resources are infinite.
]]><![CDATA[Too busy?]]>Fri, 12 Apr 2019 17:12:52 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/too-busyToo busy! That’s my excuse for not writing a blog entry yesterday as I said I would. There are so many interesting talks, meetings etc going on here, you could go from one to another. And I’ve had some parish work to catch up on too!
One of the great things about Spring Harvest is that it aims to cater for all ages and all sorts of people. The Big Start is a short, fun all-age service at the beginning of the day (9.00 am). Then there are groups for kids and a Bible Study for adults – not a group thing but a talk. And there are many different opportunities to get involved with prayer, too, using different styles of prayer.
But in case you think of prayer as a kind of optional extra to life, or something that is mainly about changing the way you think about the world rather than something that miraculously changes events, the story Pete Greig told yesterday about a member of his church may make you think again.
You will remember the terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge in April 2017, in which 5 people were killed and over 50 injured. Pete’s church member, called Jonathan, left his home especially early on 14th August last year, and having arrived at Westminster where he was due to attend a meeting later in the morning, he felt God telling him to pray against another terrorist attack. This was around 6.30 in the morning. He walked around the streets near the houses of Parliament for about an hour praying against terrorism. At 7.30, while he was drinking coffee in a café, a car deliberately swerved into some cyclists and pedestrians. The BBC report of the event (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45180120) says that the driver of the car had been driving around the same streets where Jonathan had been praying at the same time. Fortunately, this time only 3 people were slightly injured. Moreover, while Jonathan was prayer-walking the streets of Westminster, his wife, not knowing what he was doing, had felt moved to pray for his safety.
The point I took away was that I need to be ready for God to prompt me to pray, because you never know when your prayers could make a life-changing difference to the lives of others. And at this time of political turmoil, division and uncertainty in our country, is it not possible that God is calling on Christians to devote ourselves to prayer, both individually and corporately, so that good may triumph over evil, love over hatred and peace over division? Or are we too busy to pray?
]]><![CDATA[St Michael’s at Spring Harvest]]>Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:56:08 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/st-michaels-at-spring-harvest

5 children, a teenager and 13 adults make up the St Michael’s “delegation” to this annual Christian conference at Butlin’s, Minehead. Yesterday’s rain is over and the sun is now shining on us as we explore the Butlin’s facilities, Spring Harvest worship, kids’ groups and most importantly, this year’s theme: Prayer Unlimited.

We all know how important prayer is to the Christian life, and we all experience varying degrees of inadequacy, and varying amounts of hope and doubt as we try to make prayer central to our lives. So far we’ve had a great mixture of inspiration and encouragement at Spring Harvest. Last night Pastor Agu Irukwu, originally from Nigeria, talked about Elijah, his faith and also his weakness, and called us to consider if we would be part of an “Elijah generation” who will pray earnestly and persistently and “give the Lord no rest”(Isaiah 62:6-7) until we see a spiritual awakening in our nation.

In this morning’s Bible teaching on Matthew 6:5-8 Pete Greig helped us to see that Jesus was saying prayer should be simple, real and persistent. He spoke movingly of how he had spoken angrily to God when his wife was about undergo a dangerous operation for a brain tumour, telling God that it was not OK for him to take her, and reminded us of Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and the psalmists complaining to God and saying how they felt about their situation.

This afternoon he dealt with the issue of unanswered prayer, looking at Jesus’ suffering in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32f) and on the Cross. In Gethsemane, Jesus trusts God’s love as his Father (“Abba”) and his power “All things are possible to you”, but still prays that God will take away his cup of suffering. God does not answer that prayer, but Jesus accepts God’s will and through this the world is saved. In the same way, suffering and experiencing God’s absence can be part of his purpose to help us grow. “You can never learn faithfulness until your heart is broken”, said Pete Greig.

More tomorrow! …

]]><![CDATA[A Busman's Holiday?]]>Mon, 07 Jan 2019 19:13:51 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/a-busmans-holidayParish clergy usually take a week off after Christmas. The Sunday after the Christmas just gone my wife called in to the church to drop something off, and mentioned that she and I were going to a service at a different church that morning. “That’s a bit of a busman’s holiday”, commented someone.
An interesting comment: perhaps after all the services I’d taken part in over Christmas I ought to take a Sunday off going to church?
In fact, we went to St George’s Church in Owlsmoor and had a great time of worship with them, and the sermon stimulated some interesting thoughts. What we would have missed by staying at home!
To me, being in church on a Sunday is just like eating and taking exercise – it’s just part of life. I need the spiritual input just as much as I need physical nourishment and exercise, and it’s great to meet with my brothers and sisters in Christ who worship in another location. The great thing about going to another church, which we always do when we’re on holiday, is that my wife and I can sit together and just worship, rather than having to lead or preach. That’s a real holiday treat!

]]><![CDATA[Bridging two cultures]]>Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:08:29 GMThttps://www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/rev-john-castles-blog/bridging-two-cultures

The book of Acts records that when Paul arrived in Athens, alone, he found the proliferation of pagan worship distressing (Acts 17:16). The Acropolis rises up over the city with the huge Parthenon (temple of the goddess Athena) dominating the skyline. In addition to his usual practice of proclaiming Jesus in the synagogue, Paul debates with Greek philosophers, whose approach to truth might have seemed to offer some common ground and a more promising avenue for debate than an argument about the myths of popular Greek religion.

Paul's hearers are clearly fascinated with his message, and take him to the Areopagus (see photo above), a place for debating. It's not as I had imagined it - a rocky hillock, not a building at all. In his speech (briefly summarised in Acts 17:22-31), Paul uses his knowledge of Greek philosophy and poetry to present the gospel within the thought-forms of his hearers - an increasingly important strategy for the church today, as we find ourselves living within a culture shaped by ideas and values from many sources. However, as Paul discovers (17:32-34), it takes more than intellectual arguments to win people to the Christian faith!

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