A new Rector announced for Caversham and Mapledurham has spent the last eight years advising a bishop. The Rev Mike Smith will start his new ministry in March, when he becomes the parish priest for St Peter’s, Caversham, St Margaret’s, Mapledurham and St John the Baptist, Caversham, and leads the Church of England’s ministry to the parish.
Mike Smith’s ministry as a priest began 18 years ago and developed in urban and suburban parishes in Manchester until 2005. Then the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, invited him to act as chaplain and policy advisor. Bishop Tim is convenor of the bishops in the House of Lords and a lead spokesman for the Church of England.
Mike is married to Rachel, who is also a priest, currently leading her own parish in Loughborough, and they have two boys aged six and three.
“Since the invitation from the Bishop of Reading, it has become more and more clear that Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham is right for the next stage of my ministry and the place God is calling me,” Mike Smith said of his appointment. “Being chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester provided me with a wide-ranging focus for ministry, preparing and assisting Bishop Tim in all his duties, including his diocesan leadership and national church and political responsibilities.
“Now is the time for me to return to ministry in a parish and community. In hearing the call of God to come and join the church in Caversham and Mapledurham, I have been struck by the openness shown, the broad and inclusive outlook – symbolised by three values of Inclusive, Generous and Life-giving – and I look forward enormously to discovering more of how those values might help us together to reach out beyond our natural boundaries to live confident, faith-full lives.”
The Rev Mike Smith will be licensed as Rector of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham at St Peter’s Church, Caversham, on Sunday, March 16. All are welcome at the 3.30pm service.
The text of the Bishop’s announcement
Bishop Andrew is very pleased to announce the next Rector of the Parish of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham will be the Revd Mike Smith. Mike has been the Policy Adviser and Chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester for the last 8 years, and before that was a parish priest in the Diocese of Manchester. Mike is married to Rachel, who is currently a parish priest in Loughborough in the Diocese of Leicester, and they have two boys aged 6 and 3.
Mike and his family will be moving in to the Rectory at the end of February, and the licensing service will be at St Peter’s on March 16th at 3.30pm.