Innovative Vicar to leave Watford for wider role
Monday 24 September 2007
 |
Canon John Kiddle who has been Vicar of St Luke’s Church Watford for 16 years is to take up a key post working for the diocese of St Albans, which stretches from Barnet to beyond Bedford and from Tring to east of Hertford. John will take up the new post in the New Year. |
John, aged 49, is to be the Diocese’s Officer for Mission and Development, working closely with the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert. He will be responsible for encouraging churches in the diocese to reach their full potential to bring the touch of hope, help and holiness to their communities. He will be a source of advice to them about how to do this, through prayer, through action as well as through wider social engagement with fair-trade, global justice, environmental, ethical and other issues that arise increasingly frequently.
Although the success of John’s ministry is potently symbolised by the magnificent modern church building, opened last year, (which he will leave behind), both his past and future roles are primarily about people. The building is a means, not an end to the work they do in their communities. He has previously carried out a number of voluntary roles in the diocese chairing the Luton Review and helping to develop a strategy for implementing the diocese wide initiative, Vision for Action.
Before coming to St Albans, John spent nine years in Liverpool Diocese where he worked in both urban and rural parishes.
During his time in Watford, John has conducted a great number of baptisms, weddings and funerals. In the past few years it has been a special joy to prepare for confirmation teenagers whom he baptised in the parish as babies. Far from leaving him exhausted, he is greatly invigorated by the changes and the growth he has brought at St Luke’s over his time there. The local community will remember him for the annual Men’s Pilgrimage he ran, ‘Walk, Talk, Prayer and a Pint’ and for the ‘Christingle’ Service for children in the run up to Christmas last year which was so full it needed a church bigger than even the newly opened St Luke’s.
These are the ideas and energy he will bring to supporting the changing task of clergy and churches. The Church of England values traditional church buildings and forms and expressions of worship. But all over the country new ways of ‘doing church’ are being devised and a mixed economy of the old and the new is encouraged. Across St Albans diocese, more than half of the 336 parishes (10% above the national average) have started a new way of reaching out to the communities, known as a ‘Fresh Expression’. This can mean the church meeting in a school or even a pub, or running a café or a community project.
The Bishop of St Albans said: “Above all else, Canon John Kiddle will bring his love of people and of God to this work. I am already excited by the possibilities for building on our success with John’s help. His tremendous enthusiasm and ability is going to make a great impact.”
John Kiddle said: “I will be deeply sad to leave St Luke’s and our home here in Watford for the last 16 years. We have made many wonderful friends in the church and in the community. The new job is a big challenge and an exciting opportunity; it will be a privilege to seek to bring encouragement and confidence to parishes across the diocese. I will enjoy it. I am also thrilled that I will still be able to use my Watford season ticket as we won’t be moving too far away.”
John is married with four teenage children.
ends
