Added on Sunday, November 15, 2009

"Chris Sturdee and Dan Shaw as representatives of the Parish of Worplesdon are delighted to announce that the Representative of the Friends and Provost of Eton College has offered the living of the Parish of Worplesdon to the Rev Hugh Grear who has now formally accepted. 

Rev Hugh Grear is currently Vicar of the United Benefice of Holy Trinity with St Augustine's, Upper Tooting and also part time chaplain to Broomwood Hall School and Northwood College and was previously Curate in the Warlingham Team Ministry. Prior to this he was a solicitor in London and has also been a computer sales executive in Bristol.

Hugh's wife Tina works for the charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide and his two youngest children are expected to join Worplesdon School in September. As a result, Hugh will probably be joining us around Easter and the family will actually moving in permanently from early July. Exact timings are to be confirmed."

Whilst it's the Churchwardens Dan & Chris who have had the most direct involvement with the interview process, thanks are due to many across the PCC and Parish for making the Parish attractive to the candidates including Mandy and the Ministry Team and the PCC and the people who showed candidates around. We'd also like to say thank you for the support from the diocese through Archdeacon Stuart Beake, his PA Frances-Ann Cross, Rural Dean Barbara Messham, Nancy Ford, Bishop Christopher and very practical support from our patron's representative, James Cook. Most of all, thanks are due to everyone involved on a day to basis in the office, doing pastoral work, reroofing St Mary's, making music leading groups for a wide range of people and simply getting on with keeping the Parish working.

Dan Shaw & Chris Sturdee
Churchwardens