There comes a moment in the life of every parish when it’s time for a change of leadership. George and I have been here at St Michael’s for 21 years, and we now feel that the time is right for us to move on, and for St Michael's to look for a new Rector. So I will be stepping down from the role of incumbent shortly after Easter.
We’ll be very sad to leave you all, as this church has become part of who we are. But we’ll certainly keep in touch and pray for you all, particularly over the months of vacancy, while you go through the recruitment process, which I’m afraid is rather long and arduous in the Church of England.
We’ll be moving in April to the parish of Aldenham, near Watford, where I will take up the part-time role of Team Vicar within a Team ministry that includes two other parishes. I will be responsible for the parish of St John the Baptist, Aldenham. The role will involve Sundays and two weekdays, which will give me more time to spend with George, including some cheap flights to South Africa to see our son Adam, his wife Marjoli and their little boy Joshua. I’m also hoping to be studying for a part-time MA from September, and doing some in-depth Bible teaching in the diocese of St Albans.
There are some who have already been speculating about how long it would be before I move on, but for others this news will come as a bit of a shock. However, there are still 3 months to go, and I will be working with the PCC and other leaders to make sure that the parish is in a good position to carry on the work of worship and mission during the period of the vacancy. And our Area Dean, Laura, and Archdeacon Stephen will ensure that other clergy will be available to assist John White and Jane Kraft.
Please pray for George and me, and also for everyone here at St Michael’s facing a year of change. The important thing to remember is that this is God’s church, and he will be there to guide and empower us for whatever he wants us to be doing in 2026. May God bless us all.
We’ll be very sad to leave you all, as this church has become part of who we are. But we’ll certainly keep in touch and pray for you all, particularly over the months of vacancy, while you go through the recruitment process, which I’m afraid is rather long and arduous in the Church of England.
We’ll be moving in April to the parish of Aldenham, near Watford, where I will take up the part-time role of Team Vicar within a Team ministry that includes two other parishes. I will be responsible for the parish of St John the Baptist, Aldenham. The role will involve Sundays and two weekdays, which will give me more time to spend with George, including some cheap flights to South Africa to see our son Adam, his wife Marjoli and their little boy Joshua. I’m also hoping to be studying for a part-time MA from September, and doing some in-depth Bible teaching in the diocese of St Albans.
There are some who have already been speculating about how long it would be before I move on, but for others this news will come as a bit of a shock. However, there are still 3 months to go, and I will be working with the PCC and other leaders to make sure that the parish is in a good position to carry on the work of worship and mission during the period of the vacancy. And our Area Dean, Laura, and Archdeacon Stephen will ensure that other clergy will be available to assist John White and Jane Kraft.
Please pray for George and me, and also for everyone here at St Michael’s facing a year of change. The important thing to remember is that this is God’s church, and he will be there to guide and empower us for whatever he wants us to be doing in 2026. May God bless us all.
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