St John's has a new incumbent
After several meetings and interviews, and on Bishop Mark's recommendation, the Archbishop of Canterbury has appointed Fr Kevin O'Brien as our new vicar. He is married to Sue and has two boys, Patrick and Fergus. His installation as our vicar will take place at St John's on Monday 25th October.
Fr Kevin is currently Chaplain and Comissary to the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, based at Worth near Crawley. He lives in Pound Hill, so is familiar with both Sussex and Burgess Hill.
He studied Business Studies with German at Hatfield Polytechnic (now Hertfordshire University) achieving a BA (Hons) degree and later, in 1999, a BTh (Hons) at Oxford University, whilst training for the priesthood at Stephen's House. Prior to ordination, Fr Kevin had broad and successful careers in advertising and education.
Following ordination in 2001 in the Peterborough Diocese, Fr Kevin worked as assistant curate in the Uppingham group of parishes and then assistant chaplain at Wellington College.
He is a man of many and varied interests, ranging from water sports to music and playing the cello; from leading retreats to aspiring to bee-keeping, with many others inbetween!
The PCC appointed Graham Todd and Sylvia Wells to act as parish representatives for St John's during the recruitment process and both they, and indeed Bishop Mark, are very pleased to have met Fr Kevin. His qualifications, experience and personality would seem ideally suited to take the parish of St John's forward, as outlined in the Parish Profile, for the benefit of our church family and that of the wider town community.