We are delighted to be able to announce today the appointment of a new Team Vicar. The Revd Edward (Ed) Green will be joining 5folds in September. Ed has a background in teaching prior to his training for ministry and is currently Assistant Curate at Little St Mary’s Church in Cambridge. Ed is married to Katie and they have a young daughter born in 2024. We pray for Ed and his family as they prepare to join us later in the year. From September onwards we will therefore once <a></a>again have two, full-time priests leading our group of churches which is very good news.<br><br>The Acting Bishop’s official announcement of Ed's appointment reads as follows: The Acting Bishop of Ely is pleased to announce that The Revd Edward (Ed) David Green, currently Assistant Curate at St Mary the Less, Cambridge is to be Team Vicar in the 5folds Team Ministry (subject to satisfactory DBS check). Ed’s licensing date is still to be confirmed but it is expected to be sometime in September.
We are delighted to be able to share the news announced in our churches today that the Revd Stephen Dove (pictured below) has been appointed as the new Team Rector of the 5folds Team Ministry. He will take up his post on 8 May 2025. The official announcement made by the Acting Bishop of Ely, Rt Revd Dagmar Winter, was as follows:"The Acting Bishop of Ely is pleased to announce that The Revd Stephen Richard Dove, currently Assistant Curate in The Northstowe Church Network Mission Initiative in the Diocese of Ely is to be Incumbent (Team Rector) of the 5folds Team Ministry."We offer our warmest congratulations to Stephen, assuring him of our support and prayers as he prepares to take up his new post. We look forward to welcoming him to our churches and the villages in which we are based.
As our previous YouTube link stopped working, we have now created this new link to access our channel.https://www.youtube.com/@5foldschurches300/videos
Our Churches are open every day between about 09.30am and 4pm. On Wednesday 14th August, a day of prayer was held in all our Churches, where visitors were invited to take some time out to pray for peace, both in our own country and in the wider world.It was well supported, but we are conscious that some may not have been able to attend on the day, so we are making available here the prayer resources leaflet that was created for the day, so that it may be used at your leisure.
A newly completed profile document for the 5folds benefice has been published, as part of the process to recruit a new Team Rector. Advertising for this vacancy is now live.The profile document is available to view by clicking on the link below.
It was standing room only in St Mary & All Saints Church Willingham on Sunday, 3 March as members from all the 5folds village churches gathered to say farewell to Simon and Sallie Gill as Simon’s time as Team Rector draws to a close. Jenny Hill led the service and presided at the Eucharist and Simon preached. Representatives from all the churches were involved in the music, intercessions and readings. The service included a presentation to Simon and Sallie of a cheque, cards, <a></a>books and flowers for Sallie. Afterwards a more than generous spread of food, again supplied by all the churches, was much enjoyed.
In a short ceremony on Thursday, 10 July 2024, the Archdeacon of Cambridge, the Ven Alex Hughes, re-licensed Revd Jenny Hill to serve in the 5folds benefice. Jenny has already held this post since July 2023 but her licence to do so was about to run out, so this re-licensing was required. With the resignation of Revd Simon Gill as Team Rector, Jenny will continue to have the oversight of all the village parishes in the group, in Longstanton, Over, Swavesey and Willingham, but on this occasion, Jenny was licensed as 'Priest In Charge', which removes the requirement for further temporary licensing until a full time Team Rector is appointed.Jenny will continue to be assisted by Canon Jan Payne, our Licensed Lay Minister.
Announcement to be made in the Churches of the 5fold Team on 7th January 2024The Acting Bishop of Ely, Bishop Dagmar, announces the resignation of the Revd Dr Simon Gill as Team Rector of the 5Folds Benefice in the Diocese of Ely.Since his arrival in 2019, Simon has enjoyed furthering the work of the Gospel in the parishes of Longstanton, Over, Swavesey and Willingham. He has been a valued colleague within the Team and in the wider Deanery and Diocese. It is with regret that, due to ill health, Simon has found it difficult to fulfil the demands of his current appointment and, while he remains a priest, he has decided to take some time out from full-time stipendiary ministry.Simon goes with our thanks for his ministry among us and our prayers for him, Sallie and their family. Simon’s resignation took effect on 31st December, so we are now in a vacancy.
People representing all our four village churches gathered in Willingham on Saturday, 21 October to think about "Leading your church into growth". The day was led by Revd Peter Leech, Deputy Director of Mission and Outreach from the Diocese of Ely. It proved to be an inspiring day with plenty of conversation about the ideas Peter was presenting. There was a real buzz in the room as new ideas started to emerge and a number of people left saying it had given them much to think about as well as being really encouraging too. Over the coming months, further opportunities for discussion and training will continue. More details as they are known.
