Page 9 - Ludlow Tower January 2023

RE-Introducing ...

You might think that Kelvin needs no introduction. However as he
sets off for a period of Extended Ministerial Development Leave
(or sabbatical) we thought a re-introduction would be helpful,
especially for those who have joined our congregation since he
became Rector of Ludlow. At the same time we invited Kelvin to

look back over the first five years of his rectorship and forward to
his three months away from the benefice.

Please tell us a bit about yourself. several meetings with him I agreed and
I come from Sutton Coldfield, started as Acting Rector in September

Birmingham. After school I trained as an 2016. The following May when I was
electrical engineer at Leyland DAF then appointed Rector the family moved in.
joined the British Army. I was not a The first few years were very full-on,
churchgoer but about the same time I lots of fire-fighting and sorting out some
did an Alpha Course and became a knotty problems but I look back now
Christian. I served in the Royal Green and realise how far we have come. We

Jackets and the Rifle Regiment for 5 have reordered St Laurence’s, appointed
years. a new Director of Music, installed
It came as a massive surprise to me streaming and augmented reality

when an army padre suggested I search systems as well as a not-for-profit shop
out a calling for the ministry but I left and coffee shop. At St John’s we have
the army and did a theology degree at repaired the ceiling, put in new heating
Ripon College, Cuddesdon near Oxford. and sound systems and laid new paths as
In my final year I spent a term on a well as re-ordering the church. With
student exchange in Grahamstown, our mission work we are reaching out

South Africa and when I got back I had into new areas of the community and
two curacies to consider, one in welcoming the community into our
Northampton and one at Cleobury buildings more than ever before.
Mortimer. I didn’t even know where Along with these highs and successes
Shropshire was but it turned out to be we have experienced the harder side of

an amazing experience with a fantastic life, not least the loss of key members of
incumbent (Ashley Buck) and great laity. the church family such as Stephen
From there I moved down the road to Treasure, Ann Barge and Don Millington.
be Team Vicar in the Ashfords Benefice, a While I have been working hard for
wonderful introduction to rural ministry. development and progress in our

I was invited to apply to be chaplain of a churches things have changed at home
boarding school and was offered the as well. When I arrived here all my six
post but Bishop Richard Frith (the children were at school. Now one is in
previous Bishop of Hereford) felt the world of work and two are at
strongly that I needed to come to university. And after 19 years as a

Ludlow which was in vacancy. After
cont on p11

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