Dear friends,
I have been asked to share a bit about myself, so here goes:
I was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex. We were living close to my grandparents who lived in Hassocks. They went to Hassocks Congregational Church while my parents went to a little Anglican church in our village. Apart from 2 years in America, I have spent most of my life in Oxfordshire or Sussex, though I have moved about 17 times in total.
It was my grandma who told me the stories of Jesus. I usually sat on her knee and she read from her bible. When I was old enough, she bought me a Good News bible which I started to read but I don’t remember how far I got with it. However the stories and love from the bible must have stuck because I committed my life to the Lord as an adult on July 12th 1987 in a Baptist Church evening service and I have never looked back.
I left home at 19 to start my nursing course at Southampton University which I really enjoyed. I then went to do Midwifery at Oxford. I worked as a Midwife for about 10 years before going into research. I worked on several Department of Health contracts finishing back at Oxford University. All the time attending church, ending up at Temple Cowley URC in Oxford.
When I received my call to ministry and began my training I worked for a Community Development company. I used to think what an odd group of skills I have grown but being a minister in a church ready for regeneration, it all came in handy.
I love the URC. I chose to join the church because of the Statement of the Nature, Faith and Order. It made a great impression on me. Here was a church that was willing to stand up for its principles and also try and change. I knew that it was going to take time but change was written into its heart!
I am looking forward to visiting the churches when we are allowed to again. We are all learning new ways of being but we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and have many gifted people.
Thank you for all you are doing in your local church.
God bless
Bridget