11
SEPTEMBER 2010
44 curates take up calling
From left, Dan Inman, Ben Willams, Jonathan Hunter-Dunn, Stephen Blake, Graham Choldcroft, Paul Chamberlain, Christian Hofreiter, Peter Scammen, Philip Atkinson, Kevin Wright, Claire Alcock and Glynis Beckett. Front are Martin Henig, Sok Han Yong, Lucy Heyn and Jo Reid.
From left, Pippa Soundy, Jitesh Patel, Pat Butta, Janet Minkkinen, Paul Norris, Andrew Allen, James Kennedy, Peter Dockree, Carolyn Bailey, Jill Roth and Helen Barnes. Front are Jean Pryce-Williams, Pam Fielding, Jane Baun and Gareth Lane.
Lucinda is excited to be leaving the world of publishing after 20 years to work alongside the people of her benefice. She is a Franciscan who loves to be outdoors, walking or running. She is hoping to visit Uganda again next year where she has been helping to support a new primary school.
Peter Day, St Paul’s, Wokingham Peter has been a graphic designer, a mod, a bank clerk, a collector of ska and rhythm and blues, a rider of Vespas and Lambrettas, a theology student, a conference organiser, a fan of 60s influenced clothes, a lecturer, a soul dancer and an RE teacher.
Marion Pyke, Caversham, Thameside and Mapledurham Marion was an opera singer in the 1960s and when she was not singing she taught. She also became a Relate counsellor and psychotherapist. In 1975 she became a psychiatric social worker. She is also a mother and grandmother and spent 49 years of her married life in Caversham. She became a Licensed Lay Minister in 2004. Her husband John died in February, as she was approaching ordination, but she knows he will be by her side supporting her as he always did. Martin Henig, North Hinksey and Wytham and the benefice of Oxford St Frideswide with Binsey Martin is an archaeologist and has wrtitten books on Roman art. He is a vegetarian who campaigns for and is passionate about animal rights. He is also an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and is writing with others a definitive catalogue of sculpture from Roman London. Pam Fielding, Sherington with Chicheley, North Crawley, Astwood and Hardmead Pam is a retired modern languages teacher who served as an LLM for 10 years. During an interregnum, people began asking her if she was the new vicar. She says: “I felt God’s calling as a sense of a warm hand in the middle of my back, encouraging me.”
‘I felt God’s calling as a sense of a warm hand in the middle of my back...’ Pam Rolls, Harwell with Chilton Pam trained on the Local Ministry Pathway with five others who she says have become dear friends. She says: “My passion is reaching others with the love of Jesus through the ministry of our local churches and through an after-school club in Chilton School. My other interests include history (especially World War One) and music.”
‘My passion is reaching others with the love of Jesus...’ Patricia Bhutta, Cumnor Patricia Bhutta was born in Egypt and moved to Oxford in 1987 where she brought up four children while running her own legal firm. She describes herself as the radicalised older woman. She says: “I’m radicalised by a passion for sharing my love of God in creative and caring ways.” Paul Chamberlain, Thame Paul is a former environmental scientist, specialising in soil and things that live in it. His wife described his job as ‘bugs and dirt’. Paul Norris, Woughton Paul has been a ten pin bowling enthusiast for the last 40 years. He says: “It is a great game for fellowship, and in my youth I was quite good.”
Pictures by KT Bruce. www.ktbrucephotography.com
Peter Dockree, Wolverton Peter was a frontline social worker in child protection and family support and set up a rehabilitation project in rural Nigeria. He is married with three young children and has a passion for children, young people and cross cultural working. Philip Atkinson, St Aldate’s, Oxford Phil was a Consultant in Public Health in the NHS. He will be based at St Aldate’s Church in Oxford, with responsibility for leading their work with the poor and marginalised. Pippa Soundy, Amersham on the Hill and Church Mission Society Pippa has been an oil company executive, a music teacher and a community volunteer.. She says: “I’m excited about new possibilities in my curacy, a partnership between the Acknowledged Mission Community of CMS and the parish of St Michael’s, Amersham. I’m married to Andrew and we have three children.” Rosie Webb, Ascot Heath Rosie trained as a nurse, has five fabulous children has climbed mountains, run half marathons, shared the labours and fruits of an allotment and yet says it seems that life is just beginning at 50. She says: “Life is an adventure to embrace and explore, so we go to Ascot Heath in faith.”
Sally Robertson, Purley Sally has lived in Purley on Thames for 14 years. She says: “I particularly enjoy leading Purley Puppets, a group of children and adults who present the Christian story in new ways.” Sok Han Yong, St Aldate’s, Oxford Sok Han is Chinese and says coming to faith encountered challenges as it provoked serious opposition and persecution. She says: “I was threatened with banishment from the family if I did not renounce Jesus Christ and was forced to burn the Bible instead.” She says Christ has called and affirmed her, and she has conviction, dedication and commitment to ordained ministry. Stephen Blake, Burford with Fulbrook and Taynton, Asthall with Swinbrook and Widford Dr Stephen Blake will serve as a curate alongside full-time General Practice in Chipping Norton. He is a tutor in substance misuse for the Royal College of General Practitioners. He also works at the Bayberry Clinic, a residential rehabilitation centre near Bicester. Stuart King, Bearwood Stuart is a school master in Berkshire. As well as teaching physics and RE, he is heavily involved in the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh and sailing. Tina Molyneux, Burchetts Green Tina is married with 10 year old triplets who daily test her background in management consultancy and human resource management. She says: “I am rarely described as a domestic goddess which makes it ironic that my call to the priesthood dramatically came during a quiet moment in my kitchen.”