The german partnership
visit to germany 2025
Five of us travelled to Germany for a long weekend it was an early start to fly from Birmingham to Leipzig via Frankfurt then a short drive to Wegeleben where we met with our partnership friends for a welcome meal then off to our hosts for the night. On the Friday we visited the monastery church in Egeln for a guided tour and to listen to the organ in this wonderful example of a baroque church. This was followed by lunch in Kroppenstedt and a visit to the local museum, and a walk round the village to see the house of George Muller and the Free Cross in the market square. The evening meal was at a hunting club Jagerklause with BBQ and hunting horn playing. Saturday we spent with our hosts and some went to village festivals. In the evening we all met for a BBQ in Emersleben and sat out in the garden having a good social time with our hosts. Sunday at 3.00pm we met for a church service at Heteborn Dorfkirche at which as usual the Gospel was read in both languages and Jo helped with administering the Communion. At the end of the service we presented our gift and to our surprise were given a small gift each. Outside the church we said our farewells as this marked the official part of the visit. On Monday very early we started our journey home.
It is proposed that our friends come and visit us next year in the summer.
Alex Christison xtison13@gmail.com
The gift we presented made by Richard Styles of a diorama for Easter
History of our partnership
Our Diocesan Partnership link between Worcester and Magdeburg goes back 25 years to around the time when the Berlin Wall came down. The partnership began with one district of the Church Province of Saxony, around its cathedral city of Magdeburg. Gradually that extended to other districts, including Halberstadt and Stendal. A merger brought a new church (a regional church, rather like a very large diocese in our terms). The Province of Saxony joined with that of Thuringia church to become the new Evangelical Church in Central Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Mitteldeutschland). ‘Evangelical’ in their title is perhaps somewhat confusing for us: the German word means ‘Protestant’, rather than evangelical in our sense. More details and map
https://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/mission-and-ministry/worldwide-partnerships/magdeburg/
Our Benefice link was formed in 1998 linked to churches in Kirchenkreise (Deanery) of Halberstadt-Ost around the villages of Wegeleben, Kroppenstadt, Hausneindorf, Emersleben and Schwanebeck which were in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).
In August 2018 we celebrated our twentieth anniversary with a visit to Germany and planting of a tree. This year 2023 we celebrated 25 years with a service in South Littleton church led by the Archdeacon of Worcester Robert Jones
The aim of the Partnership is to promote and develop links between our two churches (Anglican and Evangelical Church in Central Germany {EKM} http://www.ekmd.de The framework is from the Meissen Declaration of 1988 which envisages “the reconciliation of churches and ministries within the wider fellowship of the universal church.” As far as possible “we take all steps to a closer fellowship in many areas of Christian life and witness, so that all our members may advance on the way to full visible unity”
We visit each other on a three year cycle, staying with host families, the itinerary includes visits to attractions both secular and religious. There is usually worship every day, using both languages. We have had some wonderful experiences and thought provoking times during visits.
Over the years we have learnt much about each other’s worship, culture and lifestyle We have also formed friendships and private visits have taken place.
If you wish to become involved, or take part in the partnership contact Alex Christison on xtison13@gmail.com