Message from The Bishop of Bedford and acting Bishop of St AlbansPublished 27th July 2025Dear all,Following an interview last week we are delighted to announce that Revd Ian Smith has been appointed as Part-time Rector. As your Part-time Rector, he will lead the ministry and mission of the church as we go forward together. As many of you know, Ian was born and bred in Toddington, cutting his teeth on the pews at the back of St George of England. During his younger years he attended Sunday Schools, sung in the choir and rang the bells. He was confirmed at St George’s in 1972 and served on the PCC in the late 1970s. Like many youngsters, he moved away from regular church after this until he and Christine were looking to get married in 1990 and began attending Chalgrave, where his Godparent’s worshipped. Both he and Christine became active in church with Ian serving and assisting in services until elected as Churchwarden, which he served as for 13 years, and Christine served as Treasurer for nearly 20 years.It was at All Saints that Ian began to discern his call to ordained ministry which resulted in him leaving for a placement in Flitwick in 2015 until ordination in St Albans in 2017. From July 2017 to December 2019, he was a Curate in the Benefice of Silsoe, Pulloxhill and Flitton and then moved to Renhold where he was installed as “Curate in Charge” early in 2020. In April 2022 he was able to retire from working at Vauxhall and became part-time Vicar of All Saints, Renhold where he has been able to develop ministry within church and community especially within the local church school.Ian is married to Christine, with two children, Rebecca and Samuel who were both baptised at All Saints, Chalgrave and attended Sunday School there.Ian says, “I am delighted and privileged to have the opportunity to serve these two parishes as Part-time Rector. Christine and I are committed to build on the good works that have taken place in the benefice and we look forward to working and worshipping with you all in the near future”.It is intended to license Ian on Monday 27th October (7:30pm) at St George’s, Toddington.Please keep Ian in your prayers as he takes up this new role.With best wishes,The Rt Revd Richard Atkinson Richard Atkinson
The Revd. Linda Washington retired at the end of March. Since then, the Diocesan of St Albans has been leading a formal process to select a new part time (0.5) Rector for Toddington and Chalgrave.A Vacancy Meeting attended by over 40 people was held at the end of March which gave the community an opportunity to express their preferences for the role.The Parochial Church Council's (PCC's) of Toddington and Chalgrave worked together to create a joint Parish Profile. This acts as something of a prospectus for applicants by summarising the "church life" in Toddington and Chalgrave. The Parish Profile promotes the parish's, and all its activities whilst also being concise.The Parish Profile is available with the adverts and also on the St George of England and All Saints church websites.The advert is on the following websites:https://www.stalbansdiocese.org/vacancies/0-5-p-t-rector-for-toddington-and-chalgrave/ https://www.cofepathways.org/members/modules/job/detail.php?record=8714
