The coming week will be Sophie Carnaby-Denyer’s last week with us as Parish Mission Enabler. She started her three year-contract on 1 September 2021, which somehow seems a long time ago, not least because apart from Cathie and me, all the clergy have changed!
We’ve got used to having Sophie as part of the parish team, and I’m really grateful for the varied contribution she has made. This has included: taking a key role with Ignite and maintaining continuity in leadership through changes in staffing; supporting refugees and asylum seekers spiritually and practically, including those staying at the Holiday Inn; getting involved with specific projects in church communities, such as Family Food and Fun at Christ Church South Ashford; being part of our church presence day by day at St Francis Cryol Road; maintaining momentum in planning the Archbishop’s 2022 Holy Week visit to the deanery when the Team Rector and Joint Area Dean went on holiday in the run-up to it (!); and helping to establish ecumenical retail chaplaincy first at the Outlet Centre and then in the town centre.
Sophie has been an integral part of the team chapter, parish leadership team and PCC, and also of the Churches Together in Ashford leaders meeting and the trustee body of Ashford Together. It’s been a pretty full three years here! And in the midst of all that, romance blossomed from a deanery meeting (not a sentence that is frequently used) and led to marriage to Chris.
Sophie has recently moved to Herne with Chris, who was licensed earlier in the month as Priest in Charge there. But she expects to be coming back to Ashford regularly, so we’ll still be seeing her around. In the meantime, we send our thanks for all we have shared with her and our prayers for the road ahead.
The Revd Dr Jeremy Worthen
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