Your new Rector… in his own wordsIt has been suggested that I write a piece for parish magazines and websites across the villages Iwill be serving - which I am more than happy to do. My name is Chris Hollingshurst, I am marriedwith three adult children, and have been ordained since 1999. Prior to that I worked as a logisticsplanning and operations manager for a major parcels company. I am passionate about faith inJesus Christ and the ministry of his Church, but when you get to know me, you may also see megetting a little excited about different forms of music, football and motorsport.So what am I currently doing? For the last five years I have been what is called a ResidentiaryCanon at Guildford Cathedral. For those not familiar with Church structures, a Residentiary Canonis simply a full-time clergy position within a Cathedral community, working with the Dean and othercolleagues as part of a team. In Guildford I have been responsible for Public Engagement andPastoral Care at the Cathedral.Prior to coming to Guildford I have been a vicar in two different Surrey and SW London parishesand, at various stages, have also been involved in vocations and schools work for the Dioceses ofGuildford and Southwark. In my first clergy post, I served as a rural Curate (assistant priest) inthirteen villages to the west of Cambridge, also within Ely Diocese. Indeed, I was ordained in ElyCathedral and am looking forward to ‘coming home’.Because I started in village ministry, spending time with those beyond the walls of church buildingsas well as regular worshippers has always been a crucial part of my ministry. This will continue tobe so as I get to know the group of eleven parishes legally called (wait for it!) ‘The Benefice of TheIsle of Ely Villages Team’. I will of course be spending time in each of them: Coveney, Haddenhamand Aldreth, Little Downham, Little Thetford, Mepal, Stretham, Sutton, Wentworth, Wilburton,Witcham and Witchford, and I hope to support and enhance the faithful ministry presence andwitness in each community.Given such a large grouping of church communities, a principal way to do all this is by workingcollaboratively with the parishes, within what is called the Ely Deanery (which stretches to Sohamand Littleport), with the Diocese of Ely, and with other relevant partners. Together we will beseeking to build ‘a community of communities’ across the Isle of Ely as a whole. This has to be apriority if we are to grow Christian faith and serve the wider local community in 2026. Given thesize and geography of the Benefice, I am looking forward to welcoming a Benefice Team Vicar,and possibly other colleagues, to share in this work.I’d love to meet as many of you as possible when the Acting Bishop of Ely installs me as BeneficeTeam Rector just after Easter, on Saturday 18 th April. The service will be held at St Andrew’sSutton at 2.30pm, timed to make it easier for all ages to be present. All are welcome, whether youcurrently worship in one of the 11 churches or not, even (and perhaps especially) if you are simplycurious!My wife, one of my sons and our little dog will be moving to Little Downham in late March. We planto take in the Fenland air most days, so do say hello if you see us walking the dog in your villageat any stage. I look forward to meeting you all!
