Following a year's interregnum, Rector Geoff took up his first Incumbency in the Church of England in April 2023. He has had previous ministerial and pastoral experience as a priest within the Roman Catholic Church. Before being received as a priest within the Church of England in July 2021, Geoff worked as a Secondary School Teacher for 8 years and later as a Support Worker in a low-secure mental health hospital. After some further ministerial training with St. Augustine's College, West Malling, he served a two year curacy in the nearby parish of Ashford. Most of his previous ministerial experience has been in the urban environment, so this is his first experience of the rural setting.Geoff is originally from North Kent and has some Italian heritage. He is married to Theresa and has a daughter, Frida. Geoff has a particular pastoral and theological interest in social justice and supporting LGBTQI+ inclusion and would describe himself as a liberation or contextual theologian. Since taking up his Incumbency, he is trying to learn more about the specific nuances of rural ministry, and is involved at diocesan level in trying to develop a rural strategy for the diocese. He has a particular interest in Christian spirituality, especially from the monastic traditions. Outside of his pastoral and theological interests, Geoff loves reading, travelling and sport, particularly football, rugby and cricket. He is a keen Everton FC supporter.Geoff is also a Unit and District Chaplain for the Sea Cadet Corps and is training to be a Branch Community Support worker for the Royal British Legion.Rector Geoff is based at the Rectory, Cock Lane in Hamstreet.
The church will close on 10th February 2025 for approximately 5 months while some exciting renovations take place. To start with, the outside path will be replaced, with widened access and less of a slope. Next, a fully accessible toilet with baby changing facilities will be built within the tower. This will also involve creating stairs to a ringing floor and fitting storage cupboards on the ground floor to act as a vestry. Lastly, we'll be getting a real kitchen in the current vestry, which is very exciting news because at the moment, although we hold regular coffee mornings, lunches and other hospitality occasions, we manage with very few facilities, not even running water inside the building. Associated plumbing and electrical work will also take place, enabling us to instal infrared heating and lighting as soon as funds allow.During the closure our Communion services on the 1st and 4th Sundays will be held at St Mary's, Orlestone, which normally hold no services on those days. We're looking forward to being joined by Orlestone church members. On the 2nd and 3rd Sundays we'll be holding informal all-age services in Ruckinge Village Hall, some of which will include 'Food for Thought' which is our cafe church service.
