A Welcome to our new Priest-in-Charge

The first thing to say is how thrilled Mel and I are to be coming to live and work in the Hillside and Osmotherley churches and in the local communities. We have very deep roots in the North of England where we were both brought up and went to university. Our families still live in or around Newcastle. After almost fifteen years in the West Midlands and then in East Anglia we are glad to be returning North of the Humber.

I was ordained in 1983 and as well as ministering in local churches I have worked as a chaplain in higher education, industry, and most recently in the City Centre of Peterborough. After a curacy in suburban Jesmond in Newcastle, I was the Master of St.Thomas’ Church in Newcastle city centre and then the Missioner in the “urban village” of Bilston in the Black Country. For the last 41/2 years I have worked in Peterborough which, although called a city, is still much influenced by its role as a market town set between the rolling Northamptonshire countryside and the flat fields and the wide skies of the Fens. Much of my work has been ecumenical and I regularly lead worship and preach in Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches as well as in St.John’s, the local Anglican parish in which I am based.

Mel is an educator and trainer and has taught in schools and in further education. In Peterborough she teaches English as a Second Language in a number of community venues. When we married she decided not to change her name and she is usually known as “Mel King”. We enjoy cooking and relaxing with family and friends, gardening and walking in the countryside. Also we both love Italy and all things Italian and spend our holidays there when we can.

We know that there is a great deal that we need to learn about this particular part of God’s Creation, so please be patient with us at first! Autumn is the season of Remembering so we will be arriving at a busy time in the Church Year. Then we are quickly into Advent and all the preparations for Christmas, so there will be lots to do. Please keep us in your prayers as we say our goodbyes in Peterborough and make our preparations for the move and the Service of Licensing which is to be on Wednesday 1st October at 6 p.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Leake. (Even at this distance it was difficult to fit into everyone’s diaries and this was the only available date. The early start will make it possible for people from Peterborough to attend.)

This is an exciting time for us all as we begin our journey together - as a new grouping of parishes with new priests. So let us pray for one another and ask God to give us the grace to discern our shared way forward. With our best wishes and our prayers.

Ian Houghton and Mel King

Christian Aid Result So Far – from Rev.Paul Rathbone £6,649.84p has come in so far from Thirsk and district after this May’s Christian Aid Week collections and events. I hope to publish the final result with all your local figures in the September edition … shhh …..

Christian Aid in Borrowby – from Mrs Jean Ford A most sincere "Thank You" to all the people who delivered and collected envelopes, and also to those who so kindly donated to Christian Aid. The Borrowby collection alone raised £100!