Tim Rogers is the vicar of 8 parishes at Peasenhall, Sibton and Yoxford to the East of the A12, and Darsham, Middleton, Dunwich, Westleton and Theberton/Eastbridge to the West. He lives in the rectory at Darsham with his wife and five boys. He took on the role 5 years ago; his wife's father having been the vicar of 3 of these parishes for many years, including the family home parish of Westleton. Tim tells me "Of course, we knew the plans for Sizewell C [when we moved here] but we just assumed it wouldn't happen, that common sense would prevail and people would realise this was the wrong project in the wrong place."
He tells me, "With 8 parishes to look after, I'm mainly tied up with the regular services, plus christenings, marriages and funerals, and then the upkeep of buildings; I have 6 medieval Churches that are Grade 1 listed and 2 that are merely Victorian! But, probably more importantly, the minister also has 'the cure of souls' for the parish: the responsibility for people's spiritual wellbeing. After 5 years I'm still building relationships and trust but it's slow when you don't have the time to attend all the coffee mornings and suchlike."
Nonetheless, he is hearing stories of grief and divided communities. "Roads connect people, but they also divide them. Think of the A12 and how it disconnects the people on either side, East or West. The new Sizewell link road is already doing the same thing; take the farmers separated from their land and community. Nowhere have I seen so much impact and stress as around Theberton/Eastbridge. People feel cut off. Community connection is really, really important!"
"I think it's part of the intangible sense of spirituality that we all have. Everybody is who they are because they belong. They belong to God, but they also belong to families, they belong to places, and they belong to communities....and massive [construction] works have a way of making these connections harder."
Tim goes on to talk about the way many people in his parishes feel, "There's a sense of bereavement even before it's happened. People who campaigned against it but weren't heard, or they were listened to but it didn't matter....the project is happening anyway. It feels like gaslighting to them." [on being called a 'nimby']
We discuss the capability of this rural village landscape to accommodate this great influx of people and industry, and he tells me the tragic story of his wife's brother who, in 1994, was hit by a car driven by a Sizewell B construction worker taking a short cut to work, speeding through sleepy Westleton. Her brother suffered life-changing injuries.
Tim tells me that the Sizewell project has been disruptive of our environmental connections, and that our connection with nature is a spiritual thing, and people have experienced the works as a spiritual assault. He elaborates, not with a biblical story, but one from Tolkein's Lord of the rings. In the context of our many lost oak trees, he recalls the 'Ents'; the ancient, tree-like giants, the 'Shepherds of the Forest', who were angered by Saruman's cutting of the trees and lay seige to Isengard and destroyed it: Tolkein's great metaphor for his wished-for triumph of nature over technology and industrialisation.
I ask him if he has any plans consequent to the SZC works, he replies "No, but I want to find more time for pastoral care, as a Church of England priest, you have all these jobs that you've got to do, but actually you want to be there for the people, to help them connect their spiritual grief with god...to help them unlock the stuff that often remains unspoken. To help them share their grief constructively!"
"I want people to feel better. To have hope. I can offer the spiritual hope of believing in a great God...and the whole Christian story, that all things are good in the end: 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." [Revelations 21:4]
If you'd like to talk to Tim you can reach him on 01728 668951 or rector.yoxmereclergy@gmail.com