Yes, from January 4th there will no longer be two morning services at St John's. Replacing both the Early Birds and the 10.45, the church will be worshipping together as one family - The Fountain. This service will start at 10am each Sunday. It aims to : Ensure that young children and families are fully welcomed; be a place for those who valu7e prayer and reflection finding stillness and depth and allowing all ages to worship side-by-side. Each service will be led by the Revd Jonathan Iddon, Interim Vicar for both Shenstone and Stonnall churches. He will be focusing on a 12-week sermon series.The River, held each Sunday at Shenstone Community Library and Coffee Shop, has already cemented itself as part of the new pattern of worship for the benefice, allowing the vicar to be at both churches each Sunday as Stonnall's service moves to an 11.30am start.
The Revd Jonathan Iddon will become one of the youngest vicars of Shenstone and Stonnall when he takes up the appointment next year. Aged 42, he is married to Amie and they have four children – two boys, Joshua and Alex and two girls, Annabelle and Jasmine -ranging in ages from 7 to 15. Among the household pets are two beagles. He has been vicar of the Peel Parishes, based at Fazeley in Tamworth, for more than 11 years. ‘We are excited about the future that God has in store in Shenstone and Stonnall while being sad that we will be leaving the Peel Parishes where our roots have been for more than a decade,’ he said. However, the ministry was not first on his list of careers with Jonathan initially thinking that he might pursue a life in creative film making, particularly animation. ‘That though was never to be as God had other ideas, having become a Christian in my first year at Durham University,’ he said. A gap year with the Christian Charity Oasis Trust working in Africa, India and Australia began to shape his life ambitions as he returned to his home city of Wolverhampton to work at St Judes Church where he met his wife Amie with them marrying in 2008. He was recommended to go forward for ordination, and they moved to Tamworth as he began a ‘mix mode curacy training’ in the Stonydelph area of the town while also studying at St John’s theological college in Nottingham. He was priested in 2012 and then 12 months later took on the post at Fazeley. Amie is Team Leader worker at the Hothouse Community Church which is part of Aldridge parish and is also training for full time ministry, having completed her first year. An avid Liverpool Football club fan from the age of 11, he also has a love of recreating British Indian restaurant curries. ‘He certainly makes a mean one,’ said Amie. Other interests range from the sublime – the Royal Shakespeare Company to the ridiculous - world wrestling entertainment. He is expected to take up his role in Shenstone and Stonnall in the spring of next year, but will not be moving into the St John’s Hill vicarage at Shenstone until the summer to accommodate the educational needs of the children who face important exam terms. ‘The move wasn’t in anyway planned but we felt God was stirring us to look at new futures with our eyes coming to rest on Shenstone and Stonnall. We look forward to being part of the two communities,’ he said.
