BROKEN RITES
AGM at Church House, London on 9th April 2011
The speaker was The Right Honourable Frank Field MP (Our President)
Frank talked briefly about the Pensions survey he had master-minded which was carried out amongst Broken Rites members and he answered questions about it afterwards. Out of 160 members sent pension questionnaires, 109 people had returned them. Discussing some of his findings, Frank said that many of the results reflected what was happening in the population as a whole but the clergy wife’s earnings over her lifetime changed more dramatically than most divorced wives as a result of her marriage break-up. Many clergy wives had expressed how their hopes and expectations of retirement had been destroyed. Those that divorced before the pension-sharing arrangement, tended to suffer most financially. The numbers achieving pension-sharing were small.
Generally speaking, the younger the wife was when the break-up occured, the more chance there was for her to repair the damage. Also, younger women are more likely to have jobs and pensions in their own right. Frank suggested there was a case for the Pension Board making some ex-gratia payments to those older wives who are suffering severe financial hardships and who missed out on pension-sharing.
Frank suggested that the results of the pensions survey should be shared with the Pensions Board; Synod members; leaders of other churches and possible trusts and charities like the Sons of the Clergy who might be persuaded to include free advertisements in relevant publications about the sort of help they could provide for divorced clergy wives.
There was lively discussion and questions before we broke into small “buzz” groups to discuss ideas about the way forward for Broken Rites and how it has helped us as individuals.
Advance notice of Annual Subscription Increase
As agreed by a just over two thirds majority vote at the AGM this year the annual subscription rate for members and associates is to be increased to £15.00 (currently approx 17 Euros) as from January 2012. This is the first increase for over ten years. If this causes financial difficulty please contact either the Membership Secretary or Treasurer to agree a nominal payment. In line with our Constitution subscriptions not paid for two years will terminate membership unless prior agreement is made. Please remember to adjust your Standing Order if you have one. Thank you
HELP US TO HELP YOU!
Help Us to Help You
It was encouraging to receive the report of Frank Field’s Pensions Survey and to hear him talk about it at the AGM. One point he has highlighted is that recent legislation provides better financial protection to spouses, but these reforms are no help to those whose marriage broke down before it was enacted. Frank suggested that Broken Rites look at finding possible sources of assistance for such women, many of whom are now beyond retirement age and facing very real problems due to small or non-existent pensions.
We find that we have gaps in the information we have collected, which we need to remedy before we can take up Frank’s challenge. The early BR membership forms did not ask for dates, which are crucial to this issue, as the particular cohort we are concerned with were divorced before 1995 when legislation changed.
We would be very grateful if you could help us fill in the gaps. If you – or any other ex-clergy wife you know, such as those no longer members of Broken Rites – come into this category, could you let us have the dates of divorce, separation and husband’s ordination, and also if possible some indication of any pension provision being received. (This information will only be used as statistics and no individuals will be identified, but we hope it will give a clearer picture and possibly lead to some improvements in the situation of those concerned.)
We are sorry to have to ask, but if you can help by providing this information we will be very grateful – please contact the Membership Secretary, 16 Shrubbery Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 7BQ 01527 577059 or e-mail membership@brokenrites.org. Many thanks.
Helen Oxley’s Ordination 
On Sunday 3rd July I was very privileged to attend Helen Oxley’s Ordination to the Deaconate in the Church of Ireland. As you will know Helen is one of Broken Rites members in the Irish Republic and a Rep on the National Committee. I was able to combine attending the Ordination with a visit to my family in Dublin.
Helen very kindly arranged for friends in Dublin, who were also attending the Ordination, to give me a lift down to St Mary’s Church Bagenalstown where the service took place, and to take me back to Dublin afterwards. Bagenalstown is a small town about 70 miles slightly south west of Dublin on the way to Kilkenny and Waterford. Helen, who is the headmistress of a small Church of Ireland school, will serve as a Non Stipendiary Minister in the Dunleckney Group of parishes.
My family took me over by car to Helen’s friends’ house. They were extremely hospitable and welcoming. It was a glorious day, warm and sunny with a bit of a breeze. We set off in the afternoon by car travelling on empty roads through the lovely Irish countryside. Just before Bagenalstown we stopped at a hotel for tea by a large river, which I later discovered was called the Barrow. Helen was there with her family and we were all introduced. We then went to the church where the service was to take place.
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A large number of people arrived including vast numbers of clergy, ordinands and Readers from all over the island, including Northern Ireland. As nearly all of Helen’s friends were robing I teamed up with an elderly lady who had also come from Dublin, and Helen’s family kindly allowed us to sit just behind them in the front of the church. Helen was the only person being ordained. The service was taken by The Rt Revd Michael Burrows, the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory and the large church was very full with family, clergy, friends and local people.
I have not been to an Ordination for many years and I had forgotten the length of the service! But it was a really lovely occasion and I felt that Helen was warmly welcomed by the large congregation. I was interested that the Gospel was read by a senior Catholic cleric which I thought was a nice ecumenical touch. After the service, when we all spilled out into the large church car park area, I spoke to Bishop Michael and he reminded me that it was three years ago that I had gone to see him in Kilkenny to talk about Broken Rites. I thought that was very kind.
The journey back to Dublin passed quickly as we were all talking non-stop! My daughter came to pick me up and we got home very late! My memories are of a very happy occasion, lovely countryside, glorious weather, and hospitable and generous people.
