There’s a song that has the lines, “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” These are wise words when asked to introduce yourself! No doubt over the years you’ll get to hear more about me and my family, but for now here's a potted history! I was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria. I saw a little of the 1960s from my carry-cot - so that gives you a rough idea as to my age. My parents (Bob & Gill Mitchell) still live in Whitehaven, although can regularly be found staying in the Manse! My younger brother, Paul and his wife Louise live in Newport, South Wales, and they have a lovely boy, Henry, who often joins me for school holidays. Pete and I met in 1985 whilst he was stationed at RAF Leuchars. We married in September 1987 and have spent time at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Waddington, RAF St Athan and then back to RAF Waddington. Pete was killed in an industrial accident in February 2018. We’d not long celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Our two girls, Rebecca and Catherine were born in 1994 and 1997 respectively. Rebecca is a primary school teacher, currently teaching Year 4 in a school in Gainsborough, and at the start of October, Catherine will be responsible for training newly opened restaurants for Wagamama. Both live in our family home in Washingborough, just outside of Lincoln. My career has been varied, although predominantly in the administrator/secretary field. I’ve worked for local government, electricity generators, NHS, Ministry of Defence and before coming into Ordained Ministry, worked as a Lay Worker in what was Gainsborough Circuit, now the Trent and Wolds Circuit, Lincolnshire District. I was stationed in Sleaford Circuit as a probationer in 2012 and was ordained in Lichfield Cathedral in June 2014. In 2019, following Pete’s death, I was stationed in Boston Circuit. I now find myself moving to join you in the newly formed Bridge Circuit, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also looking forward to exploring areas to walk my two Labradors, of which some of you have already met. In what little spare time I have, I enjoy reading and sewing.

I was born on a Sunday morning in 1995, and the news of my birth was announced just a couple hours later at the morning service of my parents' local church, so I guess it's no surprise that I feel at home there! I grew up there, surrounded by a wonderful, supportive and loving community where people knew my name, asked how I was, and genuinely cared about the answer. This support network has nurtured me, encouraged me, and, yes, held me accountable a time or two, but I would not be the person I am today without that church community! My journey to working for the Methodist church has been anything but simple - it involves an attempt at normal university life, a few jobs in childcare, home care for the elderly and retail, plus some volunteering and interning for the local church I grew up in. Finally, I realised what I was moving towards was a career in youth ministry, which saw me finally complete a BaHons in Mission and Ministry (Youth Pathway) and begin working for the York Methodist Circuit as Circuit Youth Worker. So, how did I get to be here, as a community worker, I hear you ask! Well, whilst I felt extremely supported by my church community growing up, I realised that not everyone has this same experience, and I wanted to know why I had been uplifted where others had been let down. I wanted to know if I'd just lucked out on the church I was born into, or whether there were other factors at play - which led me into the world of intergenerational ministry! I found myself fascinated by my own local church, why had I been one of the only young people from my youth group who stuck around after A-levels, why was I the only one looking at a career in the church, why (and how) was I still being engaged with and encouraged by the church community? Intergenerational church has become a passion of mine, and I believe community work is at the heart of it - our communities are made up of people from every generation, people with stories to tell and wisdom to share! The one place left in society where people of all ages can come together is the church. Whether that is church on a Sunday morning, or church in the local coffee shop on a Tuesday night is still to be figured out - but our churches are places of welcome for every age, and I believe that this kind of community work and intergenerational ministry will move the church (the Kingdom of God) forward! I still love my youth work, I still find so much joy in working alongside young people and helping them discover what their own faith journey looks like, just as my church community did (and still does) with me, but I know that God is also calling me into the intergenerational and community sphere now!

I was born, many decades ago, in a small village in North West County Durham. My father’s family were very involved in the local Methodist Church, at which my grandfather was a Lay Minister. Despite this, I was Baptised and brought up through the Church of England. Attended Church of England Schools and worshipped throughout my life at Church of England churches. In my working life, I have always held Administrative roles, whether in schools or local charities. Most recently I have worked at a Senior PA level for the Church of England for over 17 years, firstly at Durham Cathedral, then York Minster, which necessitated a relocation to Yorkshire. So how did I end up worshipping at Wolds Edge Methodist Church? Well, the answer is simple. After moving to the Pocklington area a couple of years ago, my partner, Andrew, and myself were “church shopping” and found the warmest welcome here among the Methodist family. Now, we both worship regularly across all the sites of Wolds Edge Methodist Church. In my spare time, I enjoy pottering in the greenhouse and vegetable patch, and drive a tractor on the farm at every given opportunity!