A former asylum seeking doctor is to retrain as a vicar in the hope of helping others.Edith Iheama came to the UK from Nigeria and fought for 10 years to remain in the country in a process she said made her feel "worthless".Now settled in Nottinghamshire, Dr Iheama said she wants to work "with people who need hope".The Rev James Halstead said he believed Dr Iheama would play a "powerful role" within the church.Dr Iheama, who was a qualified hospital doctor in Nigeria, came to the UK in 2008 and gained an MA in 2010.She decided to try to remain in the UK due to fears her daughters were at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM).FGM is still practised in Nigeria, although figures suggest it is declining. After claiming asylum Dr Iheama was not allowed to work while her claim was being considered.During this time she and her three daughters were left homeless, moving from hotel to hotel and even being housed in a vicarage"You feel so worthless; you are ashamed," she said."You feel debased and dehumanised."My children's head teacher was actually giving us food packs."It got to the extent that I couldn't even tell anyone that I am a trained medical doctor because I was not allowed to practise."Since gaining permission to stay in 2018, Dr Iheama has sent up a community interest company, Vanclaron, to support those in the asylum process.Her family now have a home in the village of Keyworth and one of her daughters has secured a place to study law at Cambridge University.Already a lay-preacher, Dr Iheama has now been made an ordinand, the first step in training to be a vicar."I think everything I have been through will mean I can relate and empathise with people that need that hope," she said."I went as low as I possibly could. The only thing that kept me sane was my faith, knowing I am loved by God."I was stripped of every other identity."The Rev James Halstead, who oversaw Dr Iheama's lay ministry training within the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, said: "I'm convinced she has a particular and powerful role to play in the ongoing mission of the church."Edith's church background is tremendously diverse - both in Nigeria and the UK - all of which she uses wisely in her pastoral connections, as well as in her ministry through her paid employment."She is already exercising leadership both in the church and in the secular world."
The UKME (UK Minority Ethnic) Ordinands and Curates group hopes to meet every three months to provide a voice and support for a growing number of UKME ordinands and curates. The group has been set up by former junior doctor Angela Sheard, who is training at Queen’s Foundation theological education institution in Birmingham and former biomedical scientist Tariro Matsveru who was ordained in June and is now a curate in King’s Heath, Birmingham.Revd Tariro, who was born in Zimbabwe and trained at Cranmer Hall in Durham, said the group aims to support ordinands and curates across the country. “We want to encourage and support the vocations of ordinands and curates of UKME/Global Majority Heritage in the Church of England within dioceses and theological colleges," she said.“We want to also bring to the attention of the Church the challenges being faced by UKME/GMH ordinands and curates and join the Church of England’s efforts in challenging these issues.” The group has been set up as the proportion of people from UKME backgrounds starting training for ordained ministry in the Church of England rose last year to 10.9%. A total of 8.9% of stipendiary clergy ordained last year were from a UKME background. This compares to 4.1% of the current pool of stipendiary clergy. “More people are going into training for ordained ministry which is fantastic but they are often quite scattered around the country,” Dr Sheard said.“The network has a vision of UKME ordinands and curates flourishing and being celebrated within the Church as part of the body of Christ.”The Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, has welcomed the launch of the group.“We are saying by our very presence and offering ourselves for ministry that we belong in the church, we are here to serve, because that is our calling,” she said.“I am encouraged by the number of us who are knocking on the door but sometimes we have to push the door. We are not guests to be welcomed, we belong, it is our church and we are here to stay.”Dr. Sanjee Perera, Archbishops’ Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns. said: “I am delighted to see the UKME Ordinands and Curates network launch. “UKME ordinands and curates have long needed this space of fellowship, support and representation and I am thrilled that Angela and Tariro have responded with such extraordinary insight, to my invitation.“I hope they will be a critical friend and a conversation partner to the Church of England, as we forge a space where everyone whatever their heritage, culture or ethnicity can flourish.”
A giant sculpture named 'DOUBT' will be installed on the West Front of Wells Cathedral on 26 August. The new work is by British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley and is on loan to Wells for 18 months. The West Front is made from local stone and over the centuries, weathering and damage has affected the statues, resulting in a number of vacant niches. It is one of these, Niche 338, which will be occupied by Gormley’s sculpture. Sir Antony (see photo) said: "I am very aware of the paradox of placing an object called DOUBT on the facade of a building devoted to belief. But it seems to me that doubting, interrogating, questioning, are all part of belief. "For me, doubt can be a positive force and the imaginative engine of future possibility. I am interested in conversations in and about time - and in art as a continuum that bring history to now. "I have chosen this niche outside Wells Cathedral for its exposed position and visibility: the book at the end of the bookshelf." He added: "I see DOUBT as an attempt to invoke a feeling of being isolated and exposed on the corner of a Gothic masterpiece. "In the context of an 800-year-old celebration of hierarchy, I wish to make a space for a contemporary state of mind."
This Sunday our joint parish Holy Communion service will take place at St Peter's Church, Hascombe at 10am. We'd love to see you there. Our celebrant is Revd Rutton Viccajee (see photo).If you're housebound or away you may like to join us via Zoom. Just click on the link below.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87545498163?pwd=Vis0M2dHYkd5dHBHdWkvUG9rRzVIUT09Meeting ID: 875 4549 8163 Passcode: 737239
