On Sunday 23rd March 2025, we made the announcement that Fr David will be leaving the Benefice for a position in Chelmsford Diocese. The official announcements are reproduced below. Please join us in congratulating David on this appointment and wishing him every success in this new season of his ministry. We are sad to see him go and will miss him. Our love and our prayers go with him.  Anne & Vas, John & Sue (Churchwardens)

From Bishop Dagmar, the Acting Bishop of Ely
The Reverend David Owain Sheppard, currently Priest in Charge of the Buckden with the Offords Benefice and Assistant Director of Ordinands and Vocations Adviser in the Diocese of Ely, has been appointed as Rector of Thaxted, Hempstead, Radwinter and The Samfords in the Diocese of Chelmsford. His licensing date is still to be confirmed but it is anticipated to be sometime in early July. We wish David and Kate every blessing for the future.

From the Archdeacon of Stansted
We are delighted to announce that the Patrons and Parish Reps have appointed the Revd David Sheppard to the role of Rector of Thaxted, Hempstead, Radwinter and The Samfords. David returns to Chelmsford having been an ordinand here in Saffron Walden before training at Westcott House in Cambridge, so this is a part of Essex he knows and loves well. David is currently serving as Priest in Charge of Buckden and the Offords in the Ely Diocese. He is married to Kate and has a grown up son Rupert. He is an artist and we look forward to welcoming him and his family in the summer. Details of the licensing are being sorted out but we are hoping for early July. Please pray for David and Kate as they prepare to move.