THE St J’s Group Benefice has announced the appointment of Rachel Howlett as their new curate, marking a significant addition to the team with her extensive background in education and ministry.

Rachel worked for a number of years as a secondary school Psychology and Religious Studies teacher before ‘receiving the calling’ to go into the church ministry.

Rachel said: “I’m really looking forward to serving my curacy as part of the St J’s Group, I’ve heard so many great things about what the churches in Peasedown, Wellow and Shoscombe are doing in the community. After university I became a secondary school teacher and then once I had my first child, I took a break from teaching and was a stay-at-home Mum for seven years.”

After leaving teaching, Rachel became a children’s, families and youth worker at a church in Bath, and also a chaplain at a school in the city, which offered a range of roles from 1-to-1 support to leading massive services (1,000 strong) in Bath Abbey. In the Church of England, a ‘curate’ is effectively a Vicar-in-Training. Rachel will work with and shadow Revd Matthew Street across all parishes for 3 years at which point she will be ready to be Vicar in her own right.

Revd Matthew Street, who this year celebrated 20 years as the Vicar in Peasedown St John and Wellow, said: “I am really looking forward to working with Rachel over the coming three years of her curacy. Recent years and changes in the way society works have challenged us to develop new and exciting ways of serving the community and encouraged us even more to reach out to those in need.”

For details about the St J’s Group, visit the benefice website: www.stjsgroup.church, or contact the Operations Manager Rob Bubyer by emailing [email protected] or calling 07973 972018.