I was York born and bred and, although I have lived away at times, my permanent home has never been outside of Yorkshire! This part of North Yorkshire is particularly familiar to me.
As a child, I attended church and was educated in the faith, but it was not until many years later that I really began to believe all I had been taught. In the midst of complex family difficulties and loss, I found myself turning to God with lots of awkward questions. My personal circumstances had jolted me into really thinking about life. There were times I was angry with God. Indeed, I wanted to keep being angry with him, but all I kept coming back to was a sense of his love for me.
As my husband, Paul, came to faith a short while later, we found becoming a Christian family had a huge impact on our lives, our sense of purpose and our contentment. We have one surviving child – a daughter, Beth – a son-in-law, Henry, and three surviving grandchildren.
My journey into full-time ministry was not something I anticipated. I had a successful career in a wide range of public services, specialising in strategy development and partnership working, and did not expect to leave that until retirement, but God had other plans. It may have been unexpected, but I would not swap it for the world. I have found, like so many others, that when we are following the path that God has set for us, it just feels right, and it is more fulfilling than anything else can ever be.
I spent a wonderful 3 years serving as Curate in the Benefice of Bramham (Boston Spa, Bramham, Thorp Arch and Walton) in the Diocese of York and over 6 years as Rector of Garforth in the Diocese of Leeds. It has been a joy to see God at work in those communities….and I can’t wait to see what he has planned for us here.
I am particularly excited to be both Priest-in-Charge for the Church of England and Minister with Pastoral Charge of the Methodist Congregations. It makes so much sense for us to work together in God’s name, to serve these communities.
Revd Jane