Vicar of St Barnabas,
Cray
The Revd Neil Coleman
On Saturday 13th June 2015 the Bishop of Rochester instituted the Reverend
Neil Coleman as Vicar of St Barnabas, Cray. His appointment followed a vacancy of
one year and we are encouraged and excited by the new skills and leadership he
brings to
our church.
Neil trained for ordination at Trinity Theological
College in Bristol and comes to St Barnabas
after four years as Curate in North Mundham
and Hunston, near Chichester in West Sussex. He is very grateful for the support and
encouragement
he received there during his ministry, as he
developed his leadership skills.
Neil comes from a family dedicated to church life firstly in St
Albans, Hertfordshire, then in Worthing,
Sussex, where his father Philip moved to
follow his vocation as a printer. Neil
studied for a degree in Community Studies in Bolton and then worked
for two years in social care, working with a homeless project and
social services. He then trained in Youth Work with the Oasis Trust and
subsequently held Youth Work appointments at churches in Hoddesdon,
Hertfordshire, then Worthing and Angmering, back on the south
coast.
Neil is married to Jenny and they have three school-age children.
Jenny is a qualified primary school teacher with
a special focus on Art.
Neil enjoys various sporting interests supporting the England
football and cricket teams, also following
Tottenham Hotspur, more in hope than anticipation.
He also enjoys watching films, comedy and of course spending
time with friends and family.
The whole family is excited about joining in with the St Paul’s
Cray community and the church family at St
Barnabas in the years to come. Neil welcomes
the privilege to lead the church in sharing the good news of
Jesus Christ in our busy 21st Century
lives, and within the wider network of
Orpington Deanery and Rochester Diocese.
Neil and Jenny hope
they’ll get to know as many of you as possible very soon. |