About me – including two photos
Me when this blog started © Sybille Yates
I’ve been an Anglican clergyman for more than twenty years since my ordination in July 1989. In September 2008, after over 15 years of being Rector of ten Churches in North Oxfordshire, I moved to Prague to become Chaplain to the English-speaking Anglican Episcopal congregation here in the Czech Republic. This blog is my attempt to reflect on ministering to English-speakers from a variety of backgrounds and countries, and living as an ex-pat myself in this fascinating city and country.
Me, just over three years later © Sybille Yates
Michael says:
Hi Father Yates,
Just curious as to your situation in Czech. Did your bishop move you out there or did you volunteer…is this an official church posting? I spent 21 years with the US Army Chaplain’s Corps (thus my interest in how you ended up in Czech)…I spent seven years in Germany…married to a wonderful Czech woman.
December 17, 2011, 7:13 amRicky says:
Hi Michael – My congregation is part of the 44th diocese of the Church of England, the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. In the Church of England, no one gets moved by the bishop. Nearly all vacancies are advertised in the Church press and priests apply for them in a similar manner to a secular job vacancy. Obviously the bishop is involved in the appointment process and in the case of my current post, the bishop actively encouraged me to apply for it after I was short-listed but not appointed to another post elsewhere in his diocese.
Btw – I am ‘in the Czech Republic’ and not ‘in Czech’, just as I presume you are now in ‘the United States’ and not ‘in States’. Czech people who can speak English frequently say ‘in Czech’ in part because there is no definite article in the Czech language. Did you get the habit from your Czech wife?
December 17, 2011, 10:11 amChris from Gibraltar Recruitment Agency says:
Hi Ricky,
I live in Gibraltar, I had no idea the diocese stretched to include the Czech Republic. Is the 44th diocese an “offshore” diocese of the Anglican church? Is that why Gibraltar is its “head quarters” ? I only ask as this is fascinating to me.
Regards,
Chris
January 18, 2012, 2:53 pmRicky says:
Chris – The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, usually shortened to ‘Diocese in Europe’, is the 44th diocese of the Church of England. It covers the whole of continental Europe, together with Morocco, Turkey, all the former Soviet Union in Asia & Mongolia. Within that area, (one sixth of the world’s land surface!), there are over 300 English-speaking congregations. For historic reasons, the Cathedral is in Gibraltar with pro-Cathedrals in Malta & Brussels. However, the Diocesan Office is in London & the Diocesan Bishop lives in Worth, near Crawley in order to be only 10 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport. See http://europe.anglican.org/homepage/
January 18, 2012, 6:45 pmRicky Yates » Blog Archive » Happy third birthday to my blog! says:
[...] aim will still be that as outlined in ‘About me – including a photo’. That is, to reflect on ministering here in Prague, to English-speakers from a variety of [...]
February 4, 2012, 11:26 pmMike in Bohemia says:
In the Czech language, the short version of “Czech Republic” is Cesko. The Czech Republic officially recognizes the English term “Czechia”, but it never caught on in the UK and US. I use “Czecho” with my Czech wife and Czech friends when speaking English as a rough translation of Cesko, but it’s by no means official
I have heard “in Czech” too, but I prefer “in Czecho” as it isn’t the same as the language name.
March 20, 2012, 3:22 pmBest wishes, Mike
Mike in Bohemia says:
Interesting about priests applying for advertized jobs, very sensible.
March 20, 2012, 3:23 pmRicky says:
Hi Mike – thank you for your fascinating comment regarding how you refer to this country you & I now reside in, using the English language.
Firstly, I apologise that I’ve altered what you wrote was the short name for this country in the Czech language, to ‘Cesko’. I know that there should be a hácek over the ‘C’ as there should be one over the ‘c’ in ‘hácek’. But as I’ve explained previously on this blog, for technical reasons that I do not understand, certain diacritics don’t work on my blog & instead become a question mark. Your comment as first written came out as ‘?esko’ & my reply would read ‘há?ek’.
I frequently hear Czech people speaking English saying, ‘in Czech’ when as far as I am concerned, it should be ‘in the Czech Republic’. I know you follow the ‘Girl in Czechland’ blog & this is one of her pet peeves too. I have to say that on this topic, I am in full agreement with GIC.
March 20, 2012, 5:06 pmRicky says:
Yes Mike – by positions being advertised & priests applying for specific posts, it allows for a much better matching of priests to the needs of a Church/Parish/Chaplaincy.
March 20, 2012, 5:10 pmMike in Bohemia says:
Ok Ricky, no more diacritics
March 20, 2012, 8:16 pmYes, I do follow GIC as you know. She has great wit. I am thinking of starting my own light-hearted blog about life in CZ, we’ll see.
Best wishes
Mike
Jess says:
Hi Ricky,
I have now spent a bit of time reading your blog over a few visits over the last little while. I just wanted to tell you that I find it very interesting and insightful. I am intrigued by religion and God. It is great to read a blog like this which gives me a lot of insight. Thank you!
March 22, 2012, 3:12 am