I am delighted that our United Benefice has been offered the opportunity to train and walk with an Assistant Curate next year. It has now been confirmed that Joe Padfield will be coming to our Benefice (God willing) to take up his Title Post around Petertide (Early summer) in 2021. Please keep him and his family in your prayers as they prepare I will let him introduce himself ...
It is with a huge sense of excitement and privilege that I’m writing these few words to introduce myself as (God willing) the new Assistant Curate for the Benefice. I’m greatly looking forward to serving the people of East Blatchington and Bishopstone, and working alongside and learning from Arwen.
Arwen has asked me to provide a brief ‘biography’ to give you an idea of who I am - never an easy task to sum up a life in a few words, even a relatively simple life! I was baptised as a baby and brought up as a Christian and was an acolyte and server at my local church throughout my childhood and adolescence. Despite discerning a call from God at an early age and consequently completing a degree in theology, I ended up in the world of social work, and my career so far has been in the probation service for 20 years and then in a children’s safeguarding team for the last 7 years. However, in the last few years, God’s call to ordination became stronger to the point that I could no longer resist, and I am now in my final year of training at St Augustine’s College of Theology. I find myself at last on the brink of fulfilling my vocation, and I can’t wait!
On a personal level, I am married to Imogen, a Horticultural Business Manager, and have two sons, Jonah aged 20 and Samuel aged 17. When I’m not working, writing an essay or recovering with a glass of wine, I enjoy cycling and astronomy, though rarely both at the same time.
I am so looking forward to meeting you all very soon.
Every blessing, Joe
Be assured of our prayers Joe, and we are so excited that you are coming to be here with us.