News
This page starts with the latest news and goes backwards in chronological order!
2006/7
In 2006 Jonathan was elected Presiding Archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church and has consecrated two Bishops to help serve the Church and is to consecrate two more. In August his fifth child was born, a son weighing 10lbs, Gabriel Seraphim Blake. Heidi has been elected editor of the York Student Newspaper NOUSE and is travelling abroad at every opportunity as well as studying hard. Jamie is the Bodyshop Executive at our local Audi Dealership and enjoying driving and being young. Nathan and Dominic attend St Thomas More's Roman Catholic School, Nathan reading for England and Dominic a born comedian and Gabriel is just a smidgen still but oh so beautiful! Annette runs a Mother and Toddler Group and is a SuperMum and a Superwife.
2005/6
Heidi is now studying English and Politics at York university and is Deputy News Editor of the Student Neswpaper. She has had some of her writing published and won competitions. Jamie is head of Department for the Rip Speed section of a Halfords store and has passed his driving test. Nathan has started at St Thomas More’s Roman Catholic School and Dominic is starting in September. Annette is pregnant and we are hoping and praying for the safe delivery of baby boy in August.
I accompanied my father on a Royal British Legion Heroes Return pilgrimage last June to Poland to the site of the Prisoner of War camp he was incarcerated in for over two years. My father was the pilot of a Lancaster conducting bombing raids over Dusseldorf when his plane was shot down. I have produced two DVD’s since of the experience. I was able to nurse my father during the last 10 days of his life and he was surrounded by all the family when he died in September. I took his funeral and helped see him safely into heaven.
This year I have flown to Scotland for an ordination, to the Isle of Man for a wedding and am due to travel to Europe extensively this summer for services as well as flying to Marrakesh to explore expanding the Open Episcopal Church overseas.
2004/5
Heidi, having gained 3 A grades at A level is having a gap year. She was employed on a fixed 5 month contract as Co-ordinator for the Quaker Homeless Action provision for the Homeless over Christmas called 'Open Christmas'. She has attended an International Voluntary Services camp in Mongolia working in an orphanage and travelled in Scandinavia. She is going to York to read Politics and English. Jamie is working with the Extreme Car Retailing Group, having won an apprenticeship with them out of 200 applicants. Nathan is at primary school and Dominic at Nursery.
Annette runs a Mother and Toddler group as well as continuing her work as a beautician and therapist. I have been appointed Bishop of Greater London for the Open Episcopal Church, have become equipped to offer practical help to people in a crisis and so become an On Call Bishop and been accepted as a Trauma 999 Emergency Services Specialist.
In August Heidi achieved 4 a grades at AS level.
In July Jonathan's litigation against associated newspapers limited (publishers of the daily mail ) was brought to a successful end.
2003
In April 2003 I was one of three consecrating bishops consecrating the first catholic woman bishop in this country. This was an important, historical and inspiring event. The consecration took place in the chapel of Royal Holloway College, Egham.
2001
In 2001 Jonathan and Annette were approved as foster carers. We moved house from Gillingham to Welling near to Danson Park
Dominic Sebastian was born on December 12th 2001 weighing 8 lbs and 11 ozs.
On November 10th 2001 Bishop Jonathan along with two other bishops founded the Open Episcopal Church. Jonathan carried out his first ordinations to the diaconate and the priesthood.
The third bishop of the province will be consecrated in November 2001.
2000
On December 10th 2000:
Jonathan was consecrated bishop by the Rt Revd Richard Arthur Palmer at Westgate on Sea.
Jonathan and Annette celebrated the birth of their first child, Nathan Immanuel on October 12th 2000, at Medway maritime hospital, 8 lb and 3 oz.
Jonathan and Annette went through the legal formalities for marriage at the Archbishop's palace in Maidstone on February 16th, 2000.
For them their real wedding was celebrated on February 26th, when 125 family and friends gathered in a manor house in Sussex for their wedding ceremony.