“Nick and Julia arrived in Grenoble sooner than anyone expected. This was because Nick was interviewed, and appointed, while he was working as a locum, in Sicily, and they were able to travel here from Sicily without restriction. It would have been difficult to return to England without long delays. So it was agreed that they should remain here, and be licensed as quickly as possible.
They’ve had a few practical problems, no winter clothes when they arrived; and they had to move from their apartment in Lancashire by ‘remote control’. Their belongings are waiting for them in Ramsgate – to be collected when it is easier to travel. But they are ‘happy to be here’!
Nick has been ordained for twenty years. After a career of more than 30 years in sales and marketing, he took early retirement and studied Applied Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, for three years. On returning to England, he was selected for ordination training and spent a further year at St John’s College, Nottingham. Ordained deacon, in Liverpool in 2002, he was priested a year later.
Nick served as curate in two parishes in Liverpool; and as incumbent in Sittingbourne in Canterbury Diocese, before moving to the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, in the Church in Wales; where, as well as being a parish priest, he launched a chaplaincy for Dyfed-Powys Police. Since moving to Shropshire, some years ago, Nick has been working as an assistant priest in several parishes, and as a volunteer hospital chaplain.
Nick and Julia ‘retired’ to Lancashire in 2019, but Nick says he felt called to Grenoble after repeatedly seeing our advertisement for a Chaplain and feeling he had something to offer. They are both looking forward to their ministry among the people of St Marc’s.”
