Anglican Communion News Service

The Bishop of the Arctic, the Rt Revd Christopher Williams, has hit the headlines for his attempt to recruit clergy in England. Trying to find clergy willing to serve in Canada's far North has provoked at least as much interest among the media as it has from potential candidates.

"We could do with the clergy," said the Bishop. "We don't seem to be too successful in Canada. We certainly would not turn down anybody suitable from Canada. It's simply a question of supply and demand."

The Bishop is looking to hire nine clergy for vacancies within the 30 parishes of his diocese. The Arctic is the largest diocesan territory in the entire Anglican Communion and has what many would consider to be a forbidding climate. But according to Bishop Williams the isolation is not as bad as it used to be: when he first moved there a supply ship arrived with mail just once a year, now parishes are served two or three times a week.

"The Arctic has always had a tradition of clergy from England, including myself," said Bishop Williams who grew up in Manchester before moving to Northern Canada 40 years ago. "I think in England there's still a sort of romance about the North. It dates back to the days of the early explorers."

The recruitment campaign has attracted several applications, although it is unlikely any English clergy will be working in the Arctic until the Summer.

Item from: Anglican Journal