The Sudan Link

Every Diocese in the Church of England has a link with another Diocese in the Anglican Communion.

The Diocese of Salisbury is unusual in having a link with the Episcopal Church of the whole province of Sudan, spanning both Sudan and the new country of South Sudan. It is one of the oldest diocesan links, set up in 1972 by the then Bishop of Salisbury, George Reindorp, and his colleagues in Sudan.

Unlike an aid agency, the Salisbury-Sudan Link is based on mutuality: that two churches separated by distance and culture can care for one another in sharing resources, experience and practical help. Central to the Link is prayer for one another, strengthened by relationships between peoples of all three countries.

Practical ways in which the Salisbury part of the link has been supporting the Episcopal Church include:

• Educational - by supporting the theological colleges, education in ECS schools and youth work. ( See below for more detail)
• Medical - by providing basic health care through medicines and equipment to ECS clinics, and helping to fund the training of nurses.
• Advocacy -  by working with Governments, NGOs, the Churches and International Partners to lobby for sustained peace and security for effective support for Sudan (North) and South Sudan; to end conflict and rapidly respond to security and humanitarian crises and encourage the provision of better education and health for all.
• Communications – by informing any one interested on matters about Sudan and the Link, through prayer vigils at Salisbury Cathedral, the annual Sudan Study day, through the website, Facebook and Twitter, through a quarterly bulletin, and by providing speakers and display material, and facilitating visits from our Sudanese church brothers and sisters.  For news to inform your prayers, click here.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, takes a very close and strongly supportive interest in the Partnership and soon after his enthronement attended the ECS Provincial Synod in Juba with the Dean of Salisbury, June Osborne, and Canon Ian Woodward.

The work is overseen by the Diocese of Salisbury's Sudan Link Committee, chaired by the Bishop of Sherborne, Dr Graham Kings. It is serviced by a steering committee made up of the sub-committees for education, the medical link, and communications.

The Steering Committee are a good first point of contact.

• Canon Ian Woodward is Vice–chair of the Sudan Committee, and also leads on Advocacy) (revianw@btinternet.com)
• John Foster chairs the Education Committee (john@johnfoster08.plus.com)
• Mike Maclachlan chairs the medical link committee (madmaclachlan@onetel.com)
• The Rev Ron Hart arranges the Study day, prayer vigils and temporarily coordinates the Communications group shown below (Ronhart1@yahoo.co.uk)
• Sheila Trist is Secretary and holds a list of speakers (tristravensdale@gmail.com)

Other key contacts (on the Communications group)

• Bridget Trump liaises between the Deanery links  (and other local links) and the diocesan committee, and should be contacted if you are thinking of setting up a new link. (sudan.link.co-ordinator@salisbury.anglican.org)
• Kate Brankin manages our web, facebook & twitter links, and should be contacted if you have information to share or wish to join in (salisbury.sudanlink@hotmail.co.uk)
• Simon Brignall looks after the displays and leaflets. (wrigglevb.rector@gmail.com)
• Tim Biles edits the quarterly bulletin, and will send copies on request- whether electronically or hard copy (tim@tjbiles.freeserve.co.uk)

"We will endeavour to keep you up to date with the issues that challenge and encourage us in our Partnership as we travel together in trust, prayer and fellowship."
-The Revd Ron Hart, 2012

For any other issues relating to the Sudan Link please contact the Sudan Link Secretary:

c/o The Diocesan Office, Church House, Salisbury
Email: sudan.secretary@salisbury.anglican.org
Tel: 01722 411922
Fax: 01722 411990