Published on: 04/09/2025
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Hammersmith, in London. However, my family moved to Prestatyn in North Wales when I was only 5 years old. So I grew up in Wales.
My Mum was a Clerk for the North Wales fire service. My Dad went through various jobs – diving instructor, care taker for a caravan park, cleaner at an on-shore oil terminal, etc, etc – but finished his working life as a Mission Partner for the Presbyterian Church of Wales. I have one younger brother, who now lives in Ireland with his family.
When did you first feel called to following Jesus?
I was brought up in a Christian family, specifically a Methodist family, so I was going to church from as early as I can remember. However, if I’m honest, when young I found church unbelievably dull! A number of events happened where I had the opportunity to respond to the Gospel, but it never really meant much. Sometimes I didn’t respond, sometimes I did because all my friends were, but I didn’t actually mean it! The first time I actually, genuinely, responded to Jesus was much more quiet and personal.
In the Church where I grew up they had a tradition that each teenager would be presented with a youth Bible when they turned 13. These Bibles had ‘life files’ in – modern day stories that were supposed to link to the text. We were encouraged to bring these Bibles along to church, and after regularly forgetting, I found my Bible and put it on the side so I would remember it the next Sunday. Then came a day when the weather was awful. I’d rung various friends and they were all busy and I was simply bored. I ended up picking up the youth Bible and reading about someone who read the Bible each night to help them relax and fall asleep. I threw the Bible down again and continued to mope around the house. A few days later I went to bed as normal and found I couldn’t get to sleep. I got to about five in the morning and I still hadn’t slept a wink. Remembering the story from the Bible, in desperation I picked it up and read less than a paragraph before falling instantly asleep! The next night I again couldn’t get to sleep and lasted until about 3 am before resorting to Bible reading – resulting, yet again, in instant sleep. As this continued, I developed a habit of reading the Bible every night when I went to bed – not because I wanted to read the Bible, but because I wanted to get some sleep.
At first, I found the Bible distinctly odd and unappealing, but over months it started its work in me. Like walking through dead ruins only to slowly realise that the ruins aren’t ruins at all, but a living breathing home with light and laughter and life. After about 6 months of reading the Bible nightly I prayed a prayer that went something like ‘Ok God, I give in. You’re real. I surrender.’ I’m not sure I would have had the courage to pray that prayer if I had known where it would lead!
How did your calling to ordination come about?
I first had a go at preaching, as well as things like leading services and house groups etc, at university as part of our Christian Union. I was blessed to be part of a large Christian Union of about 70 people. We were able to meet in the university Chapel. When I left university, we (my new wife and I) moved to Chorley and we tried a few different churches before settling at St James. After being there a while, the vicar kindly allowed me to continue to do the occasional preach, invited me to be a house group leader and offered to pay for me to receive some intro theological training.
It was during this time that he preached on vocation and I remember being very impacted by it, but really trying to ignore it. Frankly, I did not want to be ordained! I had a clear image off what a vicar was like, and it wasn’t me. However, the consistent nagging of the Spirit wouldn’t go away. In the end I remember making a deal with God (I don’t recommend this kind of thing!) that basically said, “I’m going to tell Carole (my wife) that I think God is calling me to ordination and unless she immediately agrees, I’m not doing it!” I went into the other room and said to her, ‘I think God’s calling me to ordination’ and without skipping a beat she replied ‘I wondered how long it would take you to figure that out’ (she’s always been one step ahead of me!). So, I contacted my vicar and began the process.
What attracted you to the Diocese of Sheffield?
There are a number of things that really attracted me to the Diocese of Sheffield. Firstly, I love the Diocese Strategy of ‘Renewed, Released, Rejuvenated’. I am a firm believer that God calls all his people into ministry, every baptised believer. This is actively pursued in the Diocese of Sheffield, particularly through the creation of Mission Areas and Focal Ministry. If the church is to grow and flourish, then it will involve all people, lay and ordained, being empowered and equipped into their full calling.
I am also very enthusiastic about a number of other areas within the mission of the Diocese. The Centenary Project, employing children’s and youth workers across the Diocese, is incredibly exciting. I loved watching the videos of the Hope Weekend, and really hope to be part of this next year. Children and young people are a vital part of the church and to see real investment in their growth and discipleship is something Sheffield Diocese can be very proud of.
I have a particular calling to urban areas and working in communities through social action. Sheffield Diocese has many urban areas and I’m very much looking forward to working in these, supporting churches and estates ministry. I believe God calls everyone, and that includes people in working class communities. I’m also aware that Sheffield Diocese contains churches across the theological spectrum. I believe in truth, but I also believe in the importance of unity. I think unity is a huge challenge for the Church of England at this time and those issues are found in microcosm in this Diocese. One of the things that honestly attracted me to serve here is the challenge of working out how we keep unity, while maintaining our own integrity of belief. This will be hard, but it is also part of the calling of all those who seek to follow the one who prayed that ‘they would be one, as you and I are one.’ (Jn 17:21).
There is more I could list: the prayer community, the commitment to planting new congregations, the commitment to encouraging vocations across ages, ethnicities, classes etc. Sheffield is an exciting place to be!
Oh – I also get to stay in Yorkshire, and who doesn’t want to do that?
What are your main aims as Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham?
I must start by saying what I have already said in my application form and my interview for this post – the parishes do not exist to support the aims of the Archdeacon; the Archdeacon exists to support the parishes. I am convinced that my main task is to be there to support the ministry and mission of the churches. As such, I really am committed to getting to know the mission areas, the deaneries and the whole archdeaconry. Expect to find me on the ground! I don’t just want to know the churches on paper, I want to know them in and through real, lived experiences.
That said, there are certain things that are simply a part of who I am. I am convinced that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news and more needed now than ever. I long to see the church grow and more and more people come to know the saving power, forgiveness, healing and love of the Jesus who died, rose and ascended for them. Evangelism is in my bones! One of my main aims as Archdeacon will be the same main aim that I hope all believers in Jesus have – to share the good news and invite people into the kingdom of God.
I am also passionate about living the good news out in our communities through social justice and action. As you’ll hear me say a lot, ‘People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.’ It is my conviction that the church is called to proclaim the good news not just in words (although these are vital), but in action. Demonstrating the love of God in all we do. For me, that has normally been demonstrated by serving in areas of deprivation – food pantries, youth clubs, elderly day cares, support for mental health, etc. But every church, in every community, can and should be doing something. One of my aims will be to support this.
The call to young people has also been a common thread in my ministry. Before I was ordained, I was a primary school teacher and in recent years I have been the Project Leader of the Every Good Work project, working with young people across the Wakefield area. So, the education department and the Centenary Project can both expect my support! But ultimately, I am here to serve – to serve God and to serve you.
What South Yorkshire delights are you looking forward to experiencing the most?
One of the peculiarities of my life, is that God seems to consistently call me to urban areas, but I am happiest walking in the countryside! So, I’m really looking forward to exploring the Peak District, not to mention the numerous parks and gardens. Having served for the last 9 years in Yorkshire, I’m glad to be continuing to enjoy the warmth and friendliness of this county’s wonderful people. My wife will be excited about the many shopping places – I’ll look forward to spending time in cafes and book shops while she fulfils this ongoing passion.