"He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps."

The Parish of Saint Francis

Southampton, Hampshire

In The Diocese of Hamtun

Sunday Mass 10.30 am

The Order of Mass - The New English Translation

The Clergy Team

Canon Anthony Wiltshire

Parish Priest

e-mail: canontony@tessac.co.uk

The Rev'd Fr. Canon Anthony

 

Fr. Tony was born and bred in Southampton – and was educated within the city boundaries before embarking on further education in the armed forces leading to economics and business studies to university level. Fr. Tony's church studies began, as most youngsters, in Sunday school, his being the Bitterne Park Congregational School, for which he proudly carries his presentation pocket Testament each Sunday presented to him on his promotion to the intermediate dept many years ago.

From then he joined St James Church at West End and through choirboy level became an altar server under the Rev'd Ivor Machin.  They used to have regular teachings in basic theological studies which he remembers to this day.  The church at this time was "high" C of E - true anglican, and he felt his Christian education was a tremendous boost to his teenage years. He was there for almost 3 years and then the family moved to Hythe on the edge of the New Forest . Fr. Tony then joined the local church - St. John the Baptist, under Rev'd Molyneaux - and quickly became an altar server under him.  This particular church was low C of E and He suddenly became aware of the vast levels of service.

He joined the army when he was 21 - did his basis training with R.E.M.E. and was posted to the 7th Armoured Brigade in Germany where he was with the 5th Royal Tank Regiment until 1964 - known as the "Desert Rats". Since his demob he has worked locally both within transport companies and for himself - which he still does to the present day.

Fr. Tony says: ‘My faith basically kept pace with me - but not too much to the fore - that is until I met up again with Fr Terry'.  Fr Terry rekindled his interest in the church and after a few weeks of consideration he realised that he was missing a lot from his life'. Fr. Tony then agreed to come along to St Francis and have a look and to meet the then Fr Martyn, and the rest is history, so to speak. Fr. Tony now feels that St. Francis is part of his extended family, and he is now proud to serve alongside Bp. Martyn and help in any way that he can. Fr. Tony has been studying under the tutelage of Bp. Martyn and will continue with his formation which will include practical sessions during weekend Clergy Training and Retreats. Fr. Tony was Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on Sunday 11th April 2010 at St. Francis, Southampton, by Bishop Martyn. Fr. Tony was Insituted as Parish Priest of St. Francis of Assisi, Southampton on Sunday 31st October 2010 whilst on retreat at Nympsfield, and Inducted the following Sunday at Southampton. Fr. Tony was made a Canon on Sunday 8th May 2011 whilst on Retreat at Nympsfield.

The Right Revd. Martyn Douglas - Superior General

Bishop of Hamtun

e-mail: bishopofhamtun@tessac.co.uk

Bishop Martyn

 

The Right Reverend Martyn Douglas is the Superior General of TESSAC and Bishop of the Diocese of Hamtun, based in Southampton. He has over twenty years experience in parochial ministry. Bp. Martyn trained for the Anglican Priesthood at St. Stephen's House, Oxford from 1985-1988. Bp. Martyn was originally ordained in Winchester Cathedral in 1988. His orders were regularised (sub conditione) in September of 2009 by the Right Reverend Robert McBride and possess valid, Old Catholic and Roman Catholic Lines of Succession as well as Greek and Russian Orthodox. On Saturday 31st of October 2009, the Right Reverend Robert McBride consecrated Bishop Martyn to the Episcopate. Bp. Martyn also looks after the training needs of ordinands and the post-ordination training of the clergy. Bp. Martyn has an extensive funeral ministry in the local area, covering from Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Wimborne, Poole, and surrounding areas.

Bp. Martyn enjoys photography, reading, walking the dogs, and at weekends a nice glass of red wine! Bp. Martyn has a particular devotion to St. Francis, and has an ambition to travel to Assisi one day to see the church St. Francis re-built. The real Francis was a high-spirited and rather wealthy young man, on the road toward economic success and military glory. He renounced it all to follow the gospel. The ideas and values that he personified - simplicity of life, nonviolence, humility, love of the creation, are worthy ones for us all to follow.

Bp. Martyn is available for Baptisms, Funerals, Weddings, and Various Blessings after Civil Services. He can be contacted by email at: bishopofhamtun@tessac.co.uk.

Bp. Martyn offers an Independent Ministry. We believe that the main stream churches alienate so many different people. Whoever comes to our church will be welcomed, whatever their background, race or sexual orientation. We are not here to judge individuals, but to accept them as they are. Individual spiritual growth is offered. We offer worship in the Catholic Tradition, and are Orthodox in our teachings about Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Why Hamtun?

The history of Southampton, as a settled site, reaches back in time almost 2000 years. In the 1st century AD the Romans established a harbour at modern-day Bitterne on the eastern bank of the River Itchen, one of the two rivers that flow into Southampton Water. This Roman port was called Clausentum and by the 4th century it had been reduced in area and surrounded by a defensive stone wall - excavations in 1951-4 revealed the remains of a number of stone buildings from the Romano-British period, including a bathhouse.

The next recorded settlement on the site is the Saxon port of Hamtun, important enough in the 8th century to give its name to the county of Hamtunsiir, thus Hampshire, while the Domesday Book version Hantescire provides the modern abbreviation of Hants. It is here at the site of the future Southampton that King Canute (1017-35) is reputed to have ordered the tide to recede. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, William had landed more of his troops at Southampton, and the township grew rapidly under Norman rule, as the port of convenience situated between Normandy and the then English capital of Winchester.

Some dates:

c.510: Probable founding of royal estate of Hamtun at St. Mary’s.
534: Death of Cerdic. His territories later becomes Hamtunscir. Hamtun has about 150 people.
635: Gewissian capital moved to Winchester (NB water travel much easier, and Hamtun is Winchester’s port). Christianity; St. Mary’s Church prob. built soon after.
661: Meonwaras and Wihtware (East Hampshire and Wight) fall under Mercian control after battle of Pontesbury. Hamtun's first ‘town’ wall built of wood.
685: Cadwalla regains lost Gewissan lands. Threat lifts. Country renamed Wessex.
690: King Ine builds a new trading port a mile away at Hamwick (wick = trading centre). Vast increase in trade with the Continent.
757: Deposed King Sigeberht murders Cumbra, alderman of S. Hampshire, in the town and is later killed at Privett by a pig-farmer, one of Cumbra’s men.
840: Viking fleet defeated N. of Southampton after raiding Winchester. There is a gradual defection from Hamtun to Hamwic, but the people take their name with them, the 'new' town becoming Hamtun.
875: Viking fleet passes Southampton on way to Wareham. Luckily doesn’t stop!
911-27: Great Reconquest captures (Northampton) in 918. Hamtun becomes Southamtun to avoid confusion.

Deacon Ron Williamson

Parish Deacon

Deacon Ron

On Sunday 31st October Ron Williamson was Ordained a Permanent Deacon whilst on retreat in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire. Ron has been an acolyte and reader at the Parish of St. Francis for the past four years, he has been a great help to the parish in many ways, and supportive of both Bishop Martyn and Fr. Tony during this time. Ron was born in 1953 in Falkirk, Scotland, and brought up there. Although his parents have now passed away, Ron has three brothers and three sisters with whom he still keeps in touch. Ron was brought up as a protestant in the Church of Scotland; he was taught in the local primary and secondary schools, and left school at 15. In 1975 Ron moved South to England, and lived and worked in Nottingham and then in Oxford. Ron came to Southampton in 2001. Ron met Bishop Martyn in 2006 through Terry Merrifield, when he was invited to Terry's Ordination. It was in 2007 when Ron started to attend Mass regularly and became a valued member of the family of St. Francis. Ron soon volunteered to read at Mass and also trained as an Acolyte. Since being part of St. Francis and TESSAC, Ron says that he has met a lot of good kind people, who have helped and supported him at the church, for which he is very grateful and offers his thanks to them all.

Meet some of the Laity, the Parishioners, of St. Francis. They contribute to the life of the Parish in many different ways, by reading the lessons, helping with refreshments, flower arranging, and much more.

Click to see pictures of St. Francis Laity

We have a strict policy on child protection in place in the parish. The clergy are never placed in the position of being alone with children or vulnerable adults under any circumstances.

The Parish of Saint Francis is a small but dedicated parish here in Southampton. We recently built our own oratory, where we worship every Sunday, and daily services are held.

We at St. Francis would like to share some of our recent events with you below:

Live Broadcasts from the Parish of Saint Francis. Please go to: http://www.ipcam-view.net/ to view Sunday Mass. You will need to ask Bishop Martyn for an ID and Password to access the live stream.   TODAY Sunday 6th May 2012 - Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B) 10.30am Stational Mass on Retreat Celebrant: The Rt. Rev'd. Martyn Douglas Homily: The Rt. Rev'd Rob Lees THIS WEEK Monday 7th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass Tuesday 8th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass Wednesday 9th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass Thursday 10th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass Friday 11th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass Saturday 12th May Easter Weekday 6.30pm Mass NEXT SUNDAY Sunday 13th May 2012 - Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B) 10.30am Parish Mass Celebrant: The Rev'd. Canon Tony Wiltshire Homily: The Rev'd. Canon Tony Wiltshire   RECENT NEWS Retreat Pictures Sunday 29th April at St. Francis Easter Sunday at St. Francis Holy Saturday at St. Francis Palm Sunday at St. Francis Mothering Sunday at St. Francis Pictures from a Wednesday Lenten Mass Pictures from the Mass from this past Sunday the 4th March. On Saturday 3rd March Bishop Martyn and some members of St. Francis, and other friends, went to the Southampton Lions Charter Dinner Dance. Bishop Martyn said the Grace at the beginning of the meal. A lovely meal followed, and then after speaches and toasts, it was disco time! Fun was had by all. Pictures here. Wednesday 29th February we had our Evening Mass followed by our Lenten Soup Supper. Canon Tony celebrated Mass and Bishop Rob preached the homily. Gwen Brown provided us with a delicious homemade soup and roll. Pictures can be seen here. On Sunday 26th February we welcomed Janice to our Parish Mass for the second time. Janice is now going to India for four weeks but will be back in time to join us for Holy Week and Easter. Our Ash Wednesday Liturgy was followed by a soup supper. We welcomed Bishop Rob abd the Rev'd. Pam to the Liturgy. Each Wednesday in Lent there will be an evening Mass followed by a soup supper organised by a different member of the congregation. Bishop Martyn provided the soup for tonight. Some pictures here.   For Shrove Tuesday Mass and Pancake Party please see the News Page Happy Birthday to Lin! Epiphany and Reception of Rev'd Pam Lees On Sunday 8th January 2012 during the Mass at St. Francis, Southampton on the Feast of the Epiphany, Bishop Martyn welcomed Bishop Rob and Rev'd. Pam Lees to the Service. Pam was then received into Membership of the Province and given a Licence to Officiate. Pam will service in the Diocese of Norfeld under the supervision of Bishop Rob. Everyone enjoyed refreshments after Mass, and some members had lunch together with our guests later. Pictures of the day can be found here. Some pictures of a Wedding Blessing Bishop Martyn performed for Sally and Trevor in June 2011.   Copyright © TESSAC