I’m in my forties, married with a wonderful daughter, and am priest in charge at St Mark’s Church, Pennington on the edge of the stunning New Forest. In recent years, I’ve been nicknamed the pink vicar, for my love of all things pink!
I trained for ordination on the MA programme at STETS, where I was year group rep, and supported the students as a representative on the Trustees. Since completing my studies, I have had the privilege of continuing with the Trustees, and working on the merger of STETS with Sarum College. I now have the pleasure of being a Trustee for Sarum College, and supporting the amazing team at the college as they continue their work, ‘learning to nourish the human spirit.’
I am also a member of the team at Hopeweavers, which is currently going through the process of acknowledgement as a religious community. Hopeweavers is a place of sanctuary for me, and I really value the rhythm of quiet days, discovering God in the quiet, stillness and creativity.
I love playing with textiles and colours, and have done 4 years of City and Guilds Stitched Textiles. Although the stitching started out as just a hobby, it’s become a way for me to think, explore and reflect. When attempting a theology assignment for college, I also discovered that taking it into textiles and stitch was a way for me to make sense of what I was thinking, and to explore it creatively. In recent years most of my best thinking and insight has come when I’ve been playing with textiles and allowing myself time to be creative.
My previous work, prior to ordination, was as the Customer Journey Manager for Carnival UK (P&O Cruises, Cunard) leading organisational change across the business. Alongside this, I was also part of rolling out their leadership training programme across the shoreside offices as well as onboard the fleet of ships. I loved getting involved and finding better ways to make things work; simplifying complex processes, keeping the best of tradition, whilst designing processes to effectively deliver the best possible customer journey for our customers.
Having attended the fabulous Modem conference last year, I have the great pleasure in becoming a Trustee for this interesting organisation, a hub for leadership, management and ministry – stimulating interesting conversation across these areas, bringing together interesting people. and encouraging conversations and ideas to flow.
I also love doing and making things happen, I’m a bit of an obsessive organiser and love bringing people together. In Myers Briggs, I come out as ENTJ (Field Marshal?!), and on the Enneagram I come out as a 3 (Achiever).
Me on placement at Westminster Abbey
I am very slowly learning about ‘being’ (although need regularly reminding that it’s OK just to be and not always to do!) I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and do find it hard to relax.
I’ve spent a number of years involved in youthwork, particularly through our local church, as well as at LiveWires (young peoples techie holiday). I particularly enjoyed leading the all age services at All Saints, North Baddesley – I think this brings together several of my passions – sharing my faith, bringing people of all ages together, helping people to engage with their faith and being creative.
This year I’m on an eventful journey in the realms of mental health, having been through depression and mania, to find that I can now also lay claim to labels of bipolar, ADHD, SPD and autistic spectrum. As I learn to live with these labels, all my skills of creativity & change are coming into play, helping me to process and recover.
I’m looking forward to finding out where this journey leads, and hope this site might become a place that helps me develop my thinking and creativity. Feel free to add your comment, and help me in this voyage of discovery!