Here is a photograph of the pulpit, or more properly called, “ambo”, at Godmanchester Church. It isn’t very old, only ten to fifteen years, and is quite small in comparison to the pulpit we had before. The old one was a magnificent piece of furniture, but unfortunately had to be replaced because of death-watch beetle, which we had problems with some years ago. My first sermons were preached from that pulpit; it was quite daunting but a wonderful honour. Interestingly, in all the time I spent in the church as a child, I never once climbed those steps into the pulpit. The first time I did, was to preach my first sermon.
The newer ambo doesn’t have the same presence about it, but it is wonderful piece of church furniture, and an immense privilege to preach from. One of the big advantages with the new ambo is it’s portability. Four people can move it relatively easily, which helps to open up the whole of the nave platform; which makes an excellent concert staging area.
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
Elizabeth Jackson on 
Hi Paul!
It’s amazing how little things in a church can just stick in your mind – and your heart… For me, it’s the “church smell” – a smell found nowhere else, and just the most comforting thing. “Functional” (read: ugly) multipurpose church buildings never get the smell, so I think that smell is something a church has to earn.
Then there are just PLACES in churches, quiet corners in a Methodist church in Ohio, where I once took the wine-soaked (okay, juice-soaked; they’re Methodist!) bread for communion on a Chrysalis (much like Cursillo) weekend. I remember sitting, with boys scattered all about the sanctuary, a single guitarist singing quiet songs of adoration to Jesus…
Little things… that God uses as memorials in our minds and hearts.
Hey, this makes me ask (after we’ve been chatting back and forth for so long!), since you preach in the Anglican Church, are you a deacon or a priest? Just curious. Can’t believe I never wondered before
I know what you mean about the “smell” and “places” Tom. Those little things can be become incredibly important to us.
I’m neither a deacon or a priest. I’m a Licensed Reader, or Licensed Lay Minister as we’re known as in many places. We fulfil a role very similar to that of a deacon, but we’re not ordained. We do have to undergo a three year training course, that covers Biblical studies; Church history; and Theology. You can get a better idea of what a Reader is from the Church of England Readers Website