The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally was nominated as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in October. Last week she was formally elected by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral. On 28th January 2026, there will be a Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, at which Bishop Sarah will legally become the Archbishop of Canterbury.On 25th March 2026 there will be an Installation (sometimes referred to as an ‘enthronement’) at Canterbury Cathedral, which denotes and marks the start of the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry. We pray for Archbishop Sarah elect as she prepares for this ministry as our Diocesan Bishop and in her leadership of the National Church.
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 closed in March 2025 while some exciting renovations took place. Nearly 10 months later, and with a few unforeseen hiccups, we are back in the church with a new, easy sloped path and a beautiful new gate, a fully accessible toilet with baby changing facilities, some lovely oak stairs to a new ringing floor and a real kitchen. The latter is very exciting because coffee mornings, lunches and other hospitality occasions feature large in our outreach and we've been managing with very few facilities, not even an inside tap. We've also installed new infrared heating and lighting.We'll be holding a Come and See afternoon on February 22nd and the Bishop of Dover will lead a service of dedication on Sunday 1st March
