The Revd Canon Sarah Fenby will be joining us in September and will formally take over at her Licensing Service on Wednesday, 6th September at 7.30pm in Wardington church. The formal service, led by the Bishop of Dorchester, will be a happy and joyous occasion for Wardington and all the five parishes within the Shires’ Edge benefice. Everyone is welcome.

For those that haven’t yet seen Sarah’s letter introducing herself:

Hello! I’m delighted to introduce myself prior to my licensing on Wednesday 6th September as the next Vicar of The Shires Edge Benefice .

I’m Sarah, and in my 23rd year of ordained ministry, mother of two fabulous young people, (a bookworm and a rower) and wife to Nick, a plant scientist and wonderfully supportive husband. As a family we enjoy listening to music, watching films, and eating together.

I grew up in Kent (one of 5 siblings), and have rural village life in my DNA. Summers were spent picking fruit and cycling country lanes aboard my trusted Raleigh Racer. I had come to faith in France as a teenager visiting family friends one Easter and grew up in faith in this rural Kent community nurtured by the wonderful life of my village church (aged 14, I was the youngest member on the PCC by quite a few years ;). I still cycle, love the outdoors, gardening, art, music, walking, and tennis too.

After some travelling, teaching, and theological training I was ordained in Bristol Cathedral, serving my curacy at St Michael’s Stoke Gifford, on the outskirts of Bristol. I’ve since served a variety of communities of different kinds including a rural town and villages’ incumbency in the Forest of Dean, energised by sharing the story of God’s reconciling love with all ages and nurturing loving communities of faith. I’ve most recently been engaged in vocations work and in the life of Chester Cathedral, and currently am taking a short sabbatical whilst supporting a local parish and organising our move.

Joining in with the work of God in communities (wherever and of whatever kind) is a real joy. I am very much looking forward to meeting and playing my part in all the communities of the Shires Edge Benefice, as Vicar, and to the next chapter of adventures in ministry alongside you. Until then..

My best wishes and prayers,

Sarah

 

Revd Canon Sarah Fenby.