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Rev. Stephen French
Induction 12th February 2006 -
June 2022
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Stephen began his journey into
retirement, formally
at the end of June, 2022
Induction
The Reverend Stephen French was the Rector
of the Church of England Benefice of
Bugbrooke, Harpole, Kislingbury and Rothersthorpe.
Stephen was inducted on the 12th of February
2006 in Bugbrooke. The church was packed with people from the parishes of the benefice.
Stephen grew up in the Scotlands area of
Wolverhampton, and left school to serve an apprenticeship and work as a toolmaker in the
town.
In his late teens he was increasingly drawn to
God and His church, and gained the 'O' and 'A'
levels that would eventually enable him to later
study for the priesthood.
Marriage
During the next decade he met and married
Chris, his first wife.
They bought a house and raised two children.
Growing closer to the church, Stephen was
invited to study for the priesthood.
In 1987 he was ordained as Team Curate at
Chell in Stoke on Trent. Two years later he took
on the role of Team Vicar at Chell Heath,
where he remained for 5 years.
In 1994, Stephen returned to Wolverhampton
as Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town.
His daughter became seriously ill, while there,
eventually needing a bone marrow transplant.
Sadly, Chris died of cancer.
Liverpool
At this stage Stephen took almost a year out
and lived in a Vicarage in Liverpool, 'in the
shadow of Bill Shankley's statue at Anfield'.
During this period, Stephen met and married
his second wife Gill, a redheaded Scouser.
In 2001 he returned to full time work as team
vicar in Hemel Hempstead with responsibility for
two churches.
He sees his achievement there as helping these
churches accept the changes necessitated by
falling congregations.
While there, he introduced them to contemporary
church music!
He will clearly be missed there, judging by the
number of parishioners who travelled to be
present at his induction.
Rural
This is Stephen's first rural experience and he
has taken to the village like a duck to water.
Running four parishes has meant some
streamlining in the services.
Stephen's intention is not to let the practical
workings of the four parishes get in the way of
providing, delivering and enabling good quality,
accessible and relevant worship across all four
churches.
Stephen has an open mind to change but will
keep the church identifiably Anglican.
He will question what is it we are inviting people
to, and work to improve the 'church' experience.
Footnotes
During the Interregnum
March 2025 to ....
Contact the Benefice Office
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed., Thur.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
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