Associate Priest
After a degree in Physiology and Biochemistry, I responded to my vocation and turned to theology. Ordained in St Albans in 1981, I served first in Waltham Cross in the South East corner of Hertfordshire, then as Curate on the Isle of Dogs, with responsibility for St Luke, Millwall. That was followed by over 14 years as Vicar of Christ Church Streatham in South London. Christ Church was a thriving multicultural parish straddling the South Circular Road where Brixton Hill on one side became Streatham Hill on the other. That was followed by over 17 years in King’s Lynn at the huge town centre church of St Margaret, which now has the title King’s Lynn Minster. This cathedral sized mediaeval building presented many challenges but it was exciting to be there at a time when the town was rediscovering and celebrating its proud and fascinating history. The Minster is the civic church for West Norfolk in the centre of the town, but most of the population of the parish lived in the post WW2 estate in North Lynn. This was an isolated area with one of the most deprived communities in England, with few and declining facilities. The mainstream Christian presence was a small but faithful Methodist congregation which had for a long time been supported by the Anglican clergy. The friendship grew into a formal ecumenical project and the development of a fine church and community centre. Building work was delayed by the Covid lock-downs and the new centre was opened in 2022.
After 39 years of Ministry, I retired in 2020 moving to Orwell in the gap between the 2 lock-downs that year. My partner of 36 years, Christopher Hayward and I share the house with our friend of very many years, Jan Moore. We needed a house big enough to contain our ridiculous collection of musical instruments and wanted to be near Cambridge where many of our friends are based. We found the house in Orwell that met all the criteria and it has become very happy home in a welcoming village that offers all we could ask. It is a privilege and a joy to continue some level of Christian Ministry in Orwell and across the Orwell Benefice.
Music has always been my love and main hobby and especially the organ. Even though I have left the Diocese of Norwich, I retain my links there as Diocesan Organ Adviser and Canon Emeritus of Norwich Cathedral.
