Our Next Vicar
It is nine months since we started the recruitment process for our new vicar, and we are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the process. We know for many it may have been quite an emotional and difficult time, and it may at times have felt quite turbulent, but as a congregation we have supported each other, and we can now look forward to the ministry of a new vicar. We would like to say big thank you for the support that we have received from you all and from our wonderful clergy team.
This process started with a consultation exercise in February and the creation of our Parish Profile, in which we said we were looking for someone who would support our liberal catholic and strong choral traditions; be a person with good theological and liturgical understanding who would help us to grow in faith and commitment; work collaboratively with all ages; and encourage us to reach out proactively to serve those outside the church. We believe that our new Vicar has all of these attributes.
We are very pleased therefore to share with you a message from the Interim Bishop of Edmonton.
I am delighted to announce that The Rev’d Carol Barrett Ford, currently Area Dean of Camden and Vicar of St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak is to be the new Vicar of the Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead.
Following a twenty-year career in teaching, Mthr Carol served her curacy in an urban priority area parish church in inner city Newcastle upon Tyne. She was Chaplain to St John’s College, Cambridge from 2016 to 2019 and during 2018 she also served as Acting Dean of Chapel.
Since 2020 she has also been Assistant Director of Initial Ministerial Education for the Edmonton Area, working with curates in their first three years of ministry.
Carol said “I am delighted to be joining the community of Hampstead Parish Church to serve the whole parish and wider Deanery at an exciting time of growth and renewal. I look forward to praying with you and discerning the future together.”
Mthr Carol will be Instituted and Inducted as Vicar on Sunday 21st January at 5.00 pm. Please keep Carol and her husband Alun in your prayers as they prepare to move. Please pray also for the congregation at St Martin’s Church as they begin preparing for their vacancy.
I am grateful to the Diocesan Patronage Board, and all involved in the appointment process.
With my prayers for you all
+ Jonathan
The Rt Rev’d Jonathan Baker, Interim Bishop of Edmonton
We join with Bishop Jonathan in expressing our delight at Mthr Carol’s appointment as our new Vicar. As your two lay representatives, we had no hesitation in supporting the unanimous decision of the Patronage Board.
Carol has a breadth of experience that we believe will help Hampstead Parish Church to grow in faith and connect with our wider community. She is also a spiritual director and has led quiet days and retreats – some of you may have been on the Women’s Retreat which she led for Hampstead Parish Church at St Katharine’s Foundation.
Carol has spent a lot of her life working with children and young people and enjoys their company and curiosity. She believes that we can learn a lot from their spirituality and openness to the Divine.
She loves music and has a wide breadth of taste from sacred and choral to jazz and 80’s indie music bands. She is also interested in art and film and says that the arts help to shape our reactions to the reality of faith.
Carol loves the Heath and walking with her husband Alun and their wire-haired fox terrier, Tonwen.
We know that you will join us in welcoming Carol, Alun and Tonwen to Hampstead Parish Church as we work together to further the Kingdom of God in this place.
Thank you,
Martin and Sheena
Churchwardens