STEPHEN WESTON  Vicar of St Mary’s

I don’t work to a contract, for a set number of hours during the week.

I get paid a stipend, which, at least in theory, provides for Cathy, our four children and me so that I can be available to carry out the duties of a vicar whenever called upon. That usually means 6 days a week (I try and take Tuesdays off….) and often from 8 in the morning till late at night.

So …. the alarm goes off at 7.25 during the weekdays, and I get up, make the lunchboxes, say goodbye to the family, unlock the church, and say morning prayer with one or two others. Often, for the rest of the morning, I’ll be in my study – on the computer preparing for meetings or writing sermons, or on the phone or reading. Today (I’m writing on a Friday) – I took the weekly assembly at St Mary’s School, then had three people to visit. I have other frequent and regular morning or lunchtime meetings with other people from the church; on Thursdays I have a communion service, and on Saturdays I do the Chaplain’s duties at Chippy hospital. In the afternoons I’m usually out – visiting, walking the dog, doing the shopping or banking, or I may need to go further afield – the Horton Hospital or the John Radcliffe, or to funerals at the crematoria at Banbury, Wellesbourne or Oxford. I often do two or three funerals during a week at this time of year.

Early evening is often spent visiting for baptisms or funerals or perhaps in a church meeting (the pastoral committee met yesterday at 5 o’clock). I usually cook dinner (excellent, enjoyable therapy – and it means I can listen to the news whilst the children watch Neighbours). I’m usually out most evenings. Last week’s evenings went like this: Monday, meeting with several others to discuss our work with young people, the impact of the alpha course, and a visit by the Bishop in October 2001, followed by the Folk Club at the Fox; Tuesday, evening off (we had a bottle of wine …); Wednesday, an open meeting about Castle View in the Town Hall; Thursday, our parish Prayer Meeting; Friday, an evening with some friends to talk about the church over dinner; Saturday, out to dinner again, discussing hunting with hounds with more friends (two dinner parties in one week is quite unusual !); Sunday; collapsing in a heap after four church services and another service in Chippy Hospital. Often I end up in the Chequers or elsewhere later in the evening. But I suspect many of you know that already !

Prayer surrounds my day – I pray while in the loo, or walking in town or with the dog, or in the car (obviously not with hands together and eyes closed !!) or with the people I meet during the day. There are many frustrations about being a vicar – working from home, and the effects that has on family life; the constant interruptions during mealtimes; never having the time to resolve our arguments; looking back on a day, knowing that I’ve been rushed off my feet, but not having much to show for it; too much month and not enough money. But I wouldn’t change jobs for the world.

Reprinted from the Chipping Norton News.