As a St Mellitus College alumna, how did your time as a student shape your faith and calling?
I’ve felt a developing call to serve God in my (local, village, growing, loving, supportive, Baptist) church over the years, stepping into different roles and ministries: leading worship, student ministry, preaching, becoming a deacon, etc. All alongside family life and a teaching career. Around seven years ago I felt unsettled and began to explore whether God might be calling me to a more full-time role in church and among students. I became aware of a deep longing to be better equipped for this through theological training. St Mellitus College East Midlands provided this. My time as a student gave me more confidence in grappling with the bible but also made me aware of how little I know. It introduced me to different voices and perspectives. It’s developed me as a servant leader (or should that be a ‘leading servant’?). A key encouragement was Jane Williams’ advice to ‘pay delighted attention to God and delighted attention to other people.’
What inspired you to return to St Mellitus College as a chaplain?
Alison Jones. Alison was a chaplain when I was a student; she generously gave me time and attention, praying for me and noticing what God was doing in and through me. When I graduated, she and the rest of the East Midlands team wondered if I’d like to do the same for others.
Tell us about your faith journey—how has it evolved since your time as a student?
I’ve just been through the hardest two years of my life. On 22nd February 2023 our eldest son Joshua (29), died by suicide. There was no warning; he appeared to experience a sudden, catastrophic, psychosis. It’s impossible to communicate the complexity of our family’s journey in a few words, but in our brokenness, grief and heartache we feel that we have been held by God and by others. We have wonderful people (our church, friends, family and village) who are accompanying us on a very hard road.
What do you find most rewarding about your role here, and what impact do you hope to make on the current students?
I felt so privileged to study at St Mellitus, to learn in a rich, stimulating, Christ-focused, worshipful and deeply caring environment. I love feeling part of a team that is building God’s kingdom by providing this environment in which others will grow and flourish and learn to serve the church.
How do your passions and life experiences influence the way you approach chaplaincy at St Mellitus?
I loved, as a teacher, seeing children develop, learn and grow in confidence. I’m realising that I have the same passion in chaplaincy and church life. Teaching, parenting and church life have helped me learn patience, listening skills, to be less judgemental and more aware of the complexity of life and the hurts we carry. I’m learning to trust God more—that ‘his love has no limits, his grace has no measure, his power has no boundary known unto man’, as the old hymn says—which is helping me to pay careful attention to people and to God, and to pray, rather than jumping in and trying to ‘fix things’.
What’s one key lesson or piece of wisdom from your time as a student or from life that you bring to your work every day?
As well as Jane’s advice above, I am thankful to the St Mellitus lecturer (I can’t remember who, unfortunately!) who advised us to ‘sit with your work in the presence of God’.
If you could sit down for coffee with any historical or biblical figure, who would it be, and what would you ask them?
Jeremiah. He had such a tough, tough time, and I’d love to know how it changed him.
How would you describe your role as a chaplain at St Mellitus College in three words?
The ‘care of souls’.
