I am so glad to be able to write to say hello to you all and I am enormously excited to be coming to join you in March next year as Interim Vicar of St John’s and St Luke’s. It will be the start of a real adventure together with God!

I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all over the coming year and here’s a little about me by way of introduction: I am married to Chris, who became Dean of Peterborough back in January 2018. I moved down to join him full time at the end of 2018, having initially stayed on in my post in the Diocese of Newcastle. We had been ‘up north’ for 15 years but are now enjoying being back closer to our roots as we both grew up in East Anglia. I was actually born in St Alban’s, but moved to North Essex when I was 6. My first degree was in Zoology at Queen Mary College, University of London, later studies then included theology and ministry in Durham and an MA in Liturgy more recently. Chris and I were married in 1989, and then lived and worked in the Diocese of Chelmsford before he became Vicar of St Botolph’s, Boston (the famous Boston ‘Stump’) and then Dean of Newcastle in 2003. We have 4 children: Alex, married to Suri and living and working in Malaysia; Tom, married to Anjalee, both currently working in London, but about to head off to Colombia for 3 years in March; Georgie, living in Stamford and working locally; and Bella, studying for an MA in Graphic Design at Glasgow School of Art. I have worked in the past for the Church Urban Fund in East London and for many years with children and families in church and schools especially with Godly Play. After ordination and curacy in a busy suburban parish close to Newcastle city centre, I had two periods of Interim Ministry, the second at Hexham Abbey, before becoming Team Rector of Christ the King Team Ministry on the north side of Newcastle, a large complex parish comprising traditional mining communities, post-war estates and a large and growing new town development. Since February 2019 I have been Interim Vicar of Higham Ferrers with Chelveston which has been a full-on but joyful time to rebuild parish life and grow the churches in partnership with our communities, despite the challenges of Covid. I will be sad to leave but as things continue to grow there, a Vicar who can live full time in the Benefice will be important and necessary. I will not miss the A605 however (!) and am very much looking forward to working closer to home and being able to minister within the City of Peterborough for which I feel a real passion and deep commitment to serve in what continue to be challenging times.

I am very aware of how much has been carried by Alun, Vernon, Judy and Margaret especially in the last year, and indeed by you all, and will be glad to work with you as we look forward with hope and faith to all that God will lead us to do together.

I will hold you all in my prayers – please pray for me too as I prepare to leave St Mary’s and
St John’s, and for the people of the Benefice as we complete this phase of ministry together.

With every blessing, and wishing you a peaceful and joyful Christmas

Michelle