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Farewell from our Curate Francesca



This month I will be moving on from Cheam Parish. My time here as a curate has flown by, and I find it hard to believe that it is more than 3 years since I arrived.

I started in Cheam in June 2021, the day after I was ordained as deacon at Southwark Cathedral. I remember that first Sunday service at St Alban’s with Nick, trying to remember all his instructions, and almost falling over the step by the altar!


I had a lot to learn. The Cheam churches are different in style to many of the churches I had been to previously. Nick and Dave were both a great source of help and advice, and they were very patient as I found my way (they needed to be!). And there were further adjustments to how the services were done as the COVID restrictions gradually lifted.

Those first few weeks were very busy, not just because of church, but because John and I were making the final preparations for our wedding just 6 weeks later. Both of us have appreciated how welcome he has been made to feel.  


In summer 2022 I was ordained as priest. It was lovely to see so many of you at the service at Croydon Minster, and the next day at St Dunstan’s as I presided at Communion for the first time. Both were really joyful occasions.


Over the last 3 years I have learned a lot through taking services, weddings, funerals and baptisms, and leading and taking part in different groups. Being part of a team and group ministry in our different churches has provided many and varied opportunities to learn.  


Most of all I have appreciated getting to know the members of our congregations. There are some lovely people of faith in each church. I have appreciated people’s warmth, friendliness and generosity, and the way they have shared what their faith means to them.


Particular thanks to Nick, who has been a really good training incumbent and a great source of support, and who has helped me to reflect on and learn from these experiences. Many thanks too to Beth, Steph, Hannah for their help, and for all I have learned from them.


And thank you too to all 3 congregations from St Dunstan’s, St Oswald’s and St Alban’s for your support during these first years of ministry. I feel very privileged, both to come into ordained ministry later in life, and especially to have been a curate here in Cheam.

I leave with a mixture of emotions. Excitement and slight trepidation about the next step, a 6 month placement covering a vacancy at the 2 churches of Kingswood Parish. And sadness about saying goodbye to everyone at the Cheam churches.

I wish you all every blessing for the future. My last services will be at St Dunstan’s on Sunday 13th October. I do hope you will be able to come along.

Francesca

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