"I am full of excitement and joy as I join the team at Manchester Cathedral. On Sunday, as I was ordained Deacon, I was aware that I have so many folk to meet as we get to know each other. My prayer is that as we journey together, we will see in each other something of the grace that reflects God generous and unbounding love for each and every one of us. As Deacon, I am here to serve, to listen, to pray, and to walk alongside. Please do say hello and bear with me as I fail miserably to put names to faces and vice versa.I grew up just outside Brighton but didn’t start attending our local church until I was about 12. I was lucky enough to attend the Society of St Francis Youth Camp at Hilfield Friary for many years and so have always enjoyed the full breadth of Anglican worship. I play the piano (badly), but love singing and our dog, Nelson the Pug, brings us much joy. I read theology/religion at Chichester and, after a brief spell in ministerial training in my early 20s, moved to London and started a career in public relations: mainly in professional services but also banking, commercial property, trade bodies and the Royal Household. I have been a magistrate since 2011 and will now continue to sit (although not too often) in Manchester. I am Civil Partner to Marco who is an architect.
In 2017 we moved to Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire and I have just been awarded the University of Oxford Master of Theology in Applied Theology where my thesis was primary research: ‘Theo-pastoral lessons from the lived experiences of gay men living with HIV.’ Living in community at theological college brought blessings and challenges but I learned to look for that grace that often creeps through in unexpected encounters and conversations.
I give thanks that God has called us to Manchester and to its Cathedral, and I will continue to pray for us all each day."
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