Please see below an announcement from the Diocese of Rochester regarding the new Priest-in-Charge:
“The Bishop of Rochester is pleased to announce that, subject to the usual mandatory checks and clearances, The Revd Jocelyn Rachel Walker is to be appointed as Priest-in-Charge of the benefice of Fawkham and Hartley and the benefice of Longfield.
Joss, as she is known, is currently Guardian of the Pilsdon at Malling Community, a Christian Community in West Malling offering a safe space where lives can be rebuilt. She was ordained in 2001 and comes to the Benefice with a wealth of priestly experience in parish ministry and chaplaincy. She is looking forward to working with the church family to deepen their faith and find ways to further engage with the local community so that Church is relevant for all.
She has a real passion for developing people’s gifts, something she was able to put to good use during her time as the Diocesan Director of Ordinands in Canterbury, and she is keen to affirm existing and emerging vocations in the church contexts here.
Prior to ordination Joss was a teacher, street-based youth worker and local authority families worker. Reaching out to families and young people, as well as building up relationships with those older members of our communities, is important to her.
We expect Joss, Mim, and Luna their cat, to move to their new home in late March, ready for her licensing which will take place in the Fawkham & Hartley Church Centre on Tuesday, 16th April at 7pm. This will be followed by her installation at St Mary’s Longfield on the morning of Sunday 21st.
Please do hold Joss in your prayers as she prepares to move and begin her ministry amongst us.”
