The following article was published in Anglican Ink and is available for you to read. It describes what the Lord has been doing at Christ Church. It has been amazing to witness God at work. It would have been impossible without the incredible group of brothers and sisters who made it possible by God's grace and for His honour. I am so grateful to the Lord for being a part of this story and for journeying alongside a church so committed to glorifying God by living like Jesus and advancing His kingdom.
Anglican Ink - A growing parish in England, Christ Church
The Latin word Plus Ultra, translated literally as “more than that,” means “further beyond” in English. It is a metaphor for risk-taking and striving for excellence, and it is a reversal of the phrase non-plus ultra (“Nothing further beyond”), which was said to have been inscribed as a warning on the Pillars of Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar (which marked the edge of the known world in antiquity).
Christ Church Exmouth (England) celebrated its 125th anniversary last year. It was constructed during a period of significant turmoil in the Church of England. It became part of the Reformed Episcopal Church of the United Kingdom in 1896. It grew to 400 communicant members, representing around 5% of Exmouth’s population at the time. Today, Exmouth has fewer than 38,000 people.
Christ Church left its denomination over two years ago on grounds of conscience. It was once again a turbulent period. However, it was not the end of the story. Christ Church Exmouth has almost doubled its ASA since its minister, Bishop Josep Rossello, was chosen to lead the church in November 2018. He moved from Brazil to England in March 2019.
