The 18th Rector

With faith in God and the by power of the Holy Spirit, we are delighted to announce the arrival of the Reverend Paul Frederick Blanch of the Church of England, whom God has called to be the 18th Rector of St. George’s.

Previously, Fr. Paul was the Vicar of the United Benefice of Meir Heath and Normacot, a position that had him as Vicar of St Francis, Meir Heath and of Holy Evangelists, Normacot, as well as overseeing a full-time primary church school, St. Matthews, Rough Close, all in the beautiful Midlands of England, proximate to Stoke-on-Trent.

Born in the City of Durham under the shadow of that city’s great Norman cathedral, Fr. Paul was raised in a committed and active Anglican family whose daily life was immersed in the life of the local church and parish. He studied for the priesthood at Chichester Theological College in West Sussex, and has a degree in Theology from Durham University, as well as significant post-graduate education. He served for six years at Derby Cathedral in a lay capacity, served as curate in St Philip Chaddesen and moved on to be parish priest of two villages in the Wear Valley. He has also been a Rector of two churches in Edinburgh, Scotland, as well a being a part-time Prison Chaplain at Edinburgh Prison for four years. It was then on to East Anglia and rector of St. Mary of the Assumption, Ufford, and thence to his present position in Meir Heath.

Our search for a rector was wide in scope. In all, we had 19 excellent candidates. All on their own journey of faith, each felt compelled for a variety of reasons to investigate whether St. George’s would be right for them. The Vestry spent many long hours and days, reading, digesting and discussing each one. All candidates walked through the same narrow door.

In our final evaluations, the Holy Spirit was truly amongst us. We understood the importance of discerning God's will as well as the difficulty that lay in such a task. God the Holy Spirit kept bringing us back to Fr. Paul. He was the one that passionately demonstrated a calling from God to this parish. Fr. Paul was resolute through the twists and turns of fate that St. George’s was the place he wished to be. God was calling him and God was calling to us. In the end, all we had to do was open ourselves and listen.

What will you see in Fr. Paul? – an orthodox, yet forward-thinking priest; one who loves God with all his heart and is willing to follow His call, even at significant personal cost; a literate and thoughtful preacher; a team-player that will work with the laity, not rule over them; a warm and engaging man. If ever there was a sign from God, this was it.

God the Holy Spirit is at work amongst us. May His will be done.

May God bless you all,

David Kennison
Senior Warden

__________________________________________________________________________

The Institution and Induction of The Reverend Paul Frederick Blanch

As Eighteenth Rector of St. George’s Church

will be held at 4PM on Saturday, December 12 in the church.

A festive reception will follow. RSVP to the parish office is appreciated.

Please join us as we begin a new ministry together.

__________________________________________________________________________