900 years at Hardington Church

Hardington Church, a couple of miles down the road here in south Somerset, celebrated its 900th Anniversary recently. The Bishop of Bath & Wells, Michael Beasley, gave the sermon. I was impressed that he came to a small rural parish in his large patch and impressed too by his sermon, which was agile, personable and intelligent. Somebody remarked to me afterwards that they didn't think he would be bishop here for a long time, because he is clearly very able. George Carey, years ago, had but a short tenure at Bath & Wells before becoming Archbishop. At the end of the service, seeing the bishop isolated at the church door, I pressed Claire and Gillian into a posed shot with the bishop - and they all responded impressively.