The Reverend Nathaniel Worsley, ordained Deacon in June 2023 at Wells Cathedral, and has joined The Waterside Benefice (St. Nicholas’ Church, Radstock and St. Peter’s Church, Westfield) as a curate.

Over its 800 years of worship, St. Nicholas’ has had many curates, but St. Peter’s, which began its life in a redundant railway carriage in 1905, near what is now the Shell Garage, has never had a curate to assist its minister; although the Church functioned with lay-readers until 1914 when a Curate-in-Charge was appointed as the first ordained minister. This means that Nathaniel is a new facet to the ministry at St. Peter’s and, with the widening of the Reverend Ian Rousell’s ministry in the new benefice, created when St. Nicholas and St. Peter’s merged to form the Waterside Benefice, he is a welcome addition to the team.

Nathaniel had a significant role in helping people, particularly young people, come to faith before he started on the path to ordination. The call to ministry was felt when Nathaniel was younger but he also felt convinced that God wanted him to encourage people to faith by working alongside of them as an outdoors instructor, leading groups in such pursuits as mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing and hill walking – most of these activities taking place in the wilds of Scotland (a perfect example of God’s creation as an outdoor and faith teaching aid). Following these arduous pursuits alongside of people, whilst at the same time encouraging them to think about their faith was a great way to encourage people to consider that faith and ask questions.

Nathaniel is grateful for the help and support of others, particularly his wife, in pushing him over the line in encouraging him to take ordination seriously.

The work Nathaniel did before his ordination has left a big imprint on him and has shaped how he thinks about ministry, he is excited to bring that experience to Radstock and Westfield over the next few years.

He feels the real test of his ministry is how faith plays out in our day to day lives. When we go home, to school or housework – what does our faith look like to us. Nathaniel is looking forward to working alongside our Rector, Ian Rousell, learning and growing with each other, as they seek to share their vision of faith with our congregations and the people of Radstock and Westfield.