North Norfolk vicar’s vision for growth

Priest, painter, poet and photographer the Revd Ian Dyble loves north Norfolk, and has a vision that our local communities will continue to grow in faith, and will realise how much God loves them. Tony Rothe reports.

Ian and his wife Jo arrived in north Norfolk as newlyweds, with a new job each, in 1986. Ian trained and worked as a solicitor in and around Cromer, and then as a barrister, but alongside his legal career there was another strong sense of calling to full time ministry, but he knew it wasn’t to be immediate. He got involved in church leadership, planting and growth.
 
Twenty years later he was ordained, and served as a curate at Holy Trinity Brompton, famous as the home of the Alpha Course. Knowing he was being called back to Norfolk, he became Vicar of the Mitre benefice in Norwich, before he and Jo, who are now grandparents, returned to north Norfolk.
 
For the past five years he has been Rector of the Weybourne Group, and walking in his coastal parishes meets God in the wind-and-water landscapes and seascapes of creek, saltmarsh, and big skies, which have inspired his artistic works.
 
But, his parish has also seen growth over the last 5 years, and he explains that growth in discipleship and a genuine loving community where love for God and love of neighbour really is at the centre of all they do in Weybourne.
 
Ian says, “It was a huge privilege to have 23 people making public declarations of faith on Weybourne beach (known locally as Weybourne Hope!)  in August this year.  19 people were baptised/reaffirmed their baptismal vows and many of these were also confirmed by the Bishop of Lynn whilst still in the water!  Another four were also confirmed on the beach.  It was a joyous occasion.  New life is springing up across the benefice with a weekly 'Celtic' service at Salthouse growing healthily in that wonderfully light and creative space where God and creativity meet.” 
 
He began responding to the wonder of the scenery and wildlife all around him in paintings, photographs and poems – which were this year collected in his book A Moment Held.  In the book, he says “As I walk out along this beautiful coast, in this corner of creation that is home for me, it really does feel like time has slowed down. It gives me the space to breathe and to simply be. And in this moment of grace a Voice speaks”.
 
Meanwhile, back in the parish, lots of midweek activities are going on, with home-groups, bible studies, Alpha and discipleship courses.  Sunday services at Weybourne are broadcast live to YouTube @weybourne_group where anyone can also catch up with past sermon series on The Sermon on the Mount, Encounters with Jesus in Luke, The Acts of Jesus in Acts, Jonah and others. 
 
Ian explains that his vision is that they continue to grow in faith and following, that through them communities might know that God loves them and that the church (the people) is for everyone and it's a good place to be - joyful, loving, welcoming, liberating.
 
He says, “People tell me that ministry in rural areas is declining and hopeless.  Not in the book that I read or with the God that I believe in. We have the best message in the world, and we live at a time when people are searching and open to engaging with that message if we are clear about what the 'good news' actually is and we share it with joy, with passion and with integrity. 
 
“I often say to our church - 'If you love Jesus and enjoy church - invite your friends'. Evangelism can be pretty straightforward.  Andrew (the disciple) did it.  He simply said to his brother Peter 'We have found the Messiah, come and see!'  And we know what happens after that! I love the church, I love these people and I am confident that when others 'come and see’ they will too”.
 
“A Moment Held” by Ian Dyble is available from him (ian@weybourne.church) See more of his poetry and pictures on Instagram @iandyble.
 
For more about Ian’s artistic work, visit the dioceseofnorwich.org .

This article first appeared in the Good News for Norwich and Norfolk paper.
 
The pictures are courtesy of Diocese of Norwich.

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