The house seems very empty today with Fr Jimmy and Matilda gone. It was a wonderful visit, and I was fair proud of my little flock for the welcome they gave to our Gambian brother and sister. Much was mutually learned of the wider Church and how it works, and that is one of the joys of belonging to the Anglican Communion.

It was on this date in 1784 that Samuel Seabury was consecrated bishop in Aberdeen, here in Scotland, to be the first bishop in America. (The English refused to consecate the man, so we did it instead) That was the beginning of the Episcopal Church in America, and really the beginning of the Anglican Communion!

Two hundred and twent-eight years later, two priests from different parts of the world share ministry, unite our congregations more deeply, and learn from each other what it means to be "in communion". It would be sad to lose this unity in diversity.

Those who would force the break-up of this Communion sadden me greatly. There are more important things involved here than gay bishops and same-sex blessings. Here is a unity in Christ Jesus that it is paramount to keep. In a divided world, we could do without more division.