We are delighted to announce that the Crown as Patron has approved the appointment of the Revd Caroline Kramer to be Team Rector of the Tolworth, Hook and Surbiton Team. This followed interviews held on 21st June. Caroline will be based at St Matthew’s Surbiton.Caroline is currently Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Shelby, North Carolina in the USA, having previously served in parishes in Florida and in the Diocese of Guildford and Oxford in the UK.Caroline writes, "I grew up in Ewell, just down the road. Eventually I studied for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, in Oxford.I was ordained Deacon in 1998 in Guildford Cathedral. We have spent a lot of time in the USA as my husband is from North Carolina. He is also a priest. Most recently I have been in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and, currently, Shelby, North Carolina. Our four children are grown up. Our oldest daughter is a musician, our son is about to finish a summer on Iona and move to North London. Our next daughter is doing a PhD in psychology at the University of Florida and our youngest daughter has just moved to New York. We are at an ideal point to return to the UK, and we intend to stay put!I have a Masters Degree in Christian Leadership from St. Mellitus and I am very interested in models of leadership which enable and support diverse lay vocations and ministry. I love working in school and with children in church. I am a bit of a hybrid having a strong background in both traditional liturgy and music and, also, in contemporary worship.I am really excited to meet you all. After the Parish Tour I called my husband and told him how nice all the people who I met are. I am not usually overly effusive but I am so happy and grateful to have been called to St. Matthews. I feel very lucky and look forward to joining you in the work of the Gospel in Surbiton. "Caroline and her husband Kris will move to Surbiton in the early autumn and she will be instituted by the Bishop of Southwark at St Matthew’s on Wednesday 30th October at 7:30 pm.We look forward with excitement to this new chapter in the life of the team and of St Matthew’s, and we pray for Caroline, Kris and their family as make this move and prepare for life and ministry in Surbiton, Hook and Tolworth.
