Introducing Joseph Barnes, our new Curate

Hello there, my name’s Joseph and I am very pleased to be joining you, post-ordination in July, to be your Assistant Curate. I very much look forward to joining the community and getting to know you all.

I thought I’d write a few brief notes about myself to help the process of getting to know one another.

I was born and brought up in Stevenage. Before and post-university I was involved in local politics, campaign management and community activism. While at university I felt my deep desire to help and minister among people was better represented in the work of the Church, I felt God calling me to ordained ministry. After university, I was a Pastoral Assistant at St John’s Hatfield and a Chaplaincy Assistant at the University of Hertfordshire.

Since 2020 I have been training at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, set in the beautiful West Yorkshire countryside. We train in community living alongside a Religious Community and being enriched by the monastic tradition of the Church. My academic passions are liturgical studies, mission, and inclusive theology.

Outside of church life, I have a number of passions. I love running cricket and squash. I enjoy cooking and pairing meals with the perfect wine. To relax I like to listen to classical music especially Bach, Handel and Pachelbel. Family is very important to me, and you’ll see my Dad around, along with my two brothers, sister-in-laws, as well as my four exuberant nephews and my darling niece.

I am excited and blessed to be joining you as your Assistant Curate and will be keeping you all in my prayers as I will be appreciative of yours.