I began circuit ministry in the old London South East District. Laurel and I lived in Bermondsey and Crystal Palace, but I became familiar with the Kent Churches through synod and committees. Our son was born at Guy’s Hospital. After ten years we moved to Durham where I was minister and then took over the running of the Wesley Study Centre, continuing a long involvement with the training of ministers. Whilst we were in Durham, Laurel trained as a social worker.

We have lived and worked in Cambridge since 1999, where we have thoroughly enjoyed the great ecumenical breadth of the Cambridge Theological Federation. At Wesley House we work with Anglicans of all varieties, and the United Reformed Church, as well as Orthodox and Catholic groups. The Federation has an inter-faith dimension through Centres for Jewish-Christian and Muslim-Jewish relations, an increasingly important sign of co-operation in these times. My own interests include the teaching of preaching and doctrine, as well as the relations of science and religion – I studied physics for my first degree. I have worked ecumenically (and sometimes taught ecumenism) for the past twenty years, but have never worked ecumenically in circuit, so I relish the prospect of working collaboratively with a United Reformed minister, and the Local Ecumenical Partnership.

Our son, Ben, is now married and living in South London. He works as a civil servant. Laurel and I are looking forward to engaging with Church and Circuit life in a new way during my ministry in Ashford .