I am delighted to share more widely the news of the appointment of the Reverend Rachel Cook as Vicar (Designate) of the Tyndale Benefice, subject to the usual legal processes.

The Tyndale Benefice consists of the parish of St Mary’s, Wotton together with that of  St Martins, North Nibley and our own parish of St Kenelm’s, Alderley with Tresham. Our church is technically a Chapel of Ease to St Kenelm’s.

Rachel and her family will be living in the newly purchased vicarage at Coombe, moving in at the end of this year; the former vicarage near St Mary’s in Wotton, is to be sold. Her official licensing service is planned for early in January, at St Mary’s, and will be held by the Bishop of Gloucester, Bishop Rachel Treweek. It will probably have some input from all the churches, including Tresham. Archdeacon Hilary will also be there, whom some will remember from the service she took at Tresham not long before the pandemic closed all churches. Bishop Rachel had taken the Alderley service not long before that, and both of them take a strong interest in our Benefice.

Rachel is currently the chaplain at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. I met her with her husband Matt when they came round the benefice during the appointment process. She has said the family is very excited at the prospect of the move, and she is much looking forward to taking up her post as vicar here. Both Kay, the St Kenelm’s church warden, and I were on the appointment panel, and are very pleased she will be joining us.

There will not be a Sunday service at Tresham or Alderley in August; we are looking at possible arrangements for September and I will let you know the position when it is clear. Meanwhile, our church is open for private reflection on Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, and (apart from this Friday July 31^st  when it is closed) St Kenelm’s, Alderley is open on Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm.

With very best wishes

Sue