Leadership and Ministry Team
Please find below an introduction to our church leaders and members of our ministry team.
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Reverend Sean Sheffield |
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Jenny Groombridge |
Rector
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Reader |
It is an absolute joy and a privilege to be the Rector of the Bewsborough Parish.
I was ordained in 2017, in the Canterbury Diocese. Before responding to God's call to ministry I managed the UK and European Call Centres (a 20+ year career) for a premium audio brand and enjoyed building teams that had a community feel within them.
I am married to Ruth, have 2 wonderful children and 2 rather wayward dogs. I am a passionate cyclist, although don't get out and about as much as I would like which is in part due to the massive hills around Dover!
Whilst I have overall responsibility for the mission, ministry and resources of the churches, I am blessed to be able to share that responsibility and the joys of ministry with others in the team. |
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Jenny has lived in Eythorne for most of her life, having attended Eythorne and Elvington Primary School and Archers Court Secondary School. She studied Administration at Westmount College, Dover and has worked in Folkestone and Dover.
She is married to Tom and has two children and one much loved grandson.
During her childhood she attended the local Baptist Church and it was during the short time spent in Maxton that she became a worshipper at St Martins.
On moving back to Eythorne at St Peter and St Paul, Jenny found her vocation firstly as an Authorised Lay Minister then as a Reader being licensed in 2015. Jenny also has an important role in the parish overseeing the Safeguarding processes. |
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Sarah Hindle |
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Derek Bilbrough |
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Pastoral Assistant |
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Authorised Lay Minister |
Born in Hampshire, brought up in Bath and West Sussex, studied in Hull and taught in South Wales, before moving to South Kent in 1988.
Privileged to have had a long and most interesting career, as an Educational Psychologist.
Now retired, learning to live a different life as Grandma, friend, volunteer, walker, and book addict.
Hope to use skills and experience to contribute to the Parish Pastoral team, and looking forward to seeing the Parish evolve and grow.
Good sense of humour and empathy essential to all aspects. |
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Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Moved to Folkestone 1972, I have been extremely fortunate by the fact that I have spent all my working life doing something that I really enjoyed, working in precision engineering.
Married (Paula) with two boys (young men). Who all attended Archers Court School.
I am now retired and living back in Whitfield for the second time, Paula my wife wanted to move back to where she was brought up as a child, so much so that we live in the corner of dad’s garden.
I found God as a major part of my life while sitting in a pew.You know the feeling when you get the nudge that tells you that you are supposed to be doing something other than just sitting there.
I trained in Maidstone and Canterbury, as an ALM, through All Saints Church, Hollingbourne. Part of the Leeds and Hollingbourne Benefice.
I was dropped in at the deep end when the benefice was forced into interregnum for two and half years. Nigel the Vicar that I trained under, unfortunately had a terrible accident and was forced to retire.
We moved from Faversham back to Whitfield, and I was accepted as an ALM in Bewsborough Parish just as Sue retired and again went into interregnum, (is there a pattern in this). |
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Jan Griffin |
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Authorised Lay Minister |
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Jan’s ‘home’ church is St Andrew’s Shepherdswell having lived in the village for over 40 years.
She worked for two local charities, ran a counselling and supervision practice and taught counselling at the University of Kent. Although mostly retired, Jan says she still very much enjoys the privilege of offering Spiritual Accompaniment. One of the ALMs (Authorised Lay Ministers) in the Parish. She is currently completing her training in Funeral ministry and also looks forward to when we can once again offer real hospitality to pilgrims walking between Canterbury and Rome. Jan enjoys gardening, writing poetry, cooking and ‘generally creating stuff’ and most loves spending as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren. |
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If you need to contact the Church then please visit the Contact Us page.