Sunday, April 16, was a special day for St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Monte-Carlo as the parish welcomed a new, permanent, priest after several months during which the congregation depended on a series of temporary ministers.

At an evening service dedicated to the induction of Reverend Hugh W Bearn, Archdeacon the Venerable Dr Peter Hooper – whose responsibilities cover France, Monaco and Switzerland – officiated over several formal procedures that mark the appointment of a new minister, including the ceremonial handing over of a key to the church, symbolic of the fact that its doors are open “for all to enter in.”

The New Beginnings for the Anglican Church in Monaco hold out hope of a new era of stability and growth at a time when the Anglican Church world-wide faces new challenges of faith and doctrine.

Local community leaders present included Eric Blair, Honorary Consul of Great Britain in Monaco, and Yvonne Bernhardt, President of the British Association of Monaco, while Father Bearn was supported by a large contingent of family members from the UK.

Musical accompaniment of the highest standard was provided by Errol Girdlestone and several members of the Ristretto ensemble.

PHOTO: Archdeacon the Venerable Dr Peter Hooper, Reverend Hugh W Bearn, Chaplain of St.Paul’s Monte-Carlo