Date: 17 January 2023
It’s quite a change of scenery and ministry for the Revd George Watkinson as he is licensed this week as the new Vicar of Pirbright and Wyke.
“I’m very much looking to starting and getting stuck in,” says George. “But it’s going to be a big change from going from urban ministry to something that’s quite rural,” he says.
Since 2020 George has been a curate at Holy Trinity Brompton in the Diocese of London. Holy Trinity Brompton operates on five different sites in the capital with multiple services every Sunday.
“My challenge will be to explore how ministry looks in this rural setting,” says George.
“London is very different, in terms of ministry and building community. London has a very transient community which comes and goes. The opportunity to go deeper with people and build that community is very attractive and what we’re seeing in the Church, post Covid, is people wanting more of that small scale community.”
George and his wife Anna have two small children with a third on the way.
George has set himself the target of getting to know as many people as possible in the first six months and to do a lot of listening.
The other remit George feels called to, is to build the children’s and families ministry of the two parishes. “To start to reach out to local families and see that ministry thrive.”
“There’s a lot of change coming,” says George, “For my family and for the churches but we’re not in a rush.”
Bishop Andrew licensed George at St Mark’s Church Wyke on Thursday and he’ll take his first service on Sunday at St Michaels and All Angels, Pirbright