St. John's Church, Waterbeach

On Tuesday 18th November 2008, the Bishop of Huntingdon will license me as Priest in Charge of Waterbeach and Landbeach. You may have glimpsed a photograph of me (and my dog!) in the parish magazine or on the St John's website but perhaps you are wondering who I am. I have already had a few requests for a biography and so I am writing to introduce myself to you.

I was born in 1974 and grew up in Farnham, a small town on the Surrey-Hampshire border. My call to ordination first arose in the early nineties, aged 17. I was the sole young person of my age attending St Peter's Wrecclesham. I remember feeling a little different from my peers because I was the only one who darkened the doors of the church. At that time I found myself watching ‘The Calling’ – a documentary series on television. It followed a group of ordinands through their training from initial enquiry, to selection conference, then training, ordination and curacy. I was captivated by the series and had to watch every episode. I sensed that I might end up in that place one day. Seventeen years later, I still have vivid memories of ‘The Calling.’

My childhood dream had been to join the police force. However, at the end of my penultimate year of university I discovered that this would not be realisable. My level of unaided vision was far too low to meet the standards required of any constabulary. Faced with this unexpected news, I was forced to reconsider my future. I was about to complete a degree in International Business and French at Aston University, Birmingham. I decided to take a ‘gap year’ after graduation and moved to Cambridge in July 1997. I started work in retail as a Sales Assistant with Clinton Cards.

During my first year in Cambridge I started to attend St Barnabas Church. One Sunday in March 1998, the Vicar announced that the church was looking to appoint a layworker for the coming academic year. He said that the role would suit a recent graduate who was thinking about full time Christian work or ordination. I fitted this description exactly and felt compelled to apply. I joined the Staff Team that July for what would turn out to be four very rewarding years of ministry. Six months were spent as layworker followed by three and a half years as Administrator.

When I started to think about moving on I could not see myself working outside the church. The rich and varied opportunities at St Barnabas had nurtured my calling. With this experience, I felt ready to seriously pursue ordination. After a year of discernment with a Diocesan Director of Ordinands, I was sent off to a national selection conference. I came through the three days of intensive assessment with a recommendation for training. Cambridge had become my home and so I opted to stay in the city to study at Ridley Hall Theological College.

Three years at Ridley Hall allowed me to build some solid foundations as I studied for a degree in Theology for Ministry. I spent some of this time listening to lectures and writing essays and enjoyed parish placements in Brampton, the Ely team and Birmingham, Alabama. My formation continued during my curacy in the parishes of Yaxley and Holme with Conington, 2 semi rural parishes on the edge of Peterborough. I now look forward to serving the Lord with you in Landbeach and Waterbeach.

I look forward to meeting you all over the next few weeks.