Introducing Your Rector

Rev. Duncan Swan The following few words are to introduce myself and give you a little bit of my background.

Coming to Caterham is returning to the county in which I grew up, my parents still live in Farnham. I was educated at Charterhouse, a school in Godalming, before reading Chemistry at Imperial College, London.

Whilst in London, two very important things happened to me, I met Penny, who I married some ten years ago, and I also felt called to the ordained ministry.

My original church background was Evangelical, but I began to move to a more Catholic outlook in the year I spent after University at St. Albans Abbey, where they have a scheme for people testing their vocations. I then spent three years training for the ministry in Cambridge, including six very happy months as an exchange student in the USA. I was ordained in 1992, serving a curacy in an Anglo-Catholic parish in Stevenage.

After we got married we moved to Harpenden, where I took charge of a daughter church for my second curacy, and where my two sons James and George were born. They are now two boisterous lads of 9 and 6, who share their father's devotion to Chelsea F.C! Other hobbies include walking, real ale, listening to the Archers, reading and music. My academic interests are in the area of Ethics. I completed a part time M.A. at King's College, London in Ethics in 2004.

The last six and a half years have been spent as Vicar of Redbourn, a large village of 5000 people, which has been a very positive and exciting time for us, and, I hope, for the church as well. We are really looking forward to coming to Caterham, to getting to know you all, and to working with all the churches of the Team in mission and worship.

Please pray for us as we move and settle in to the house, and for my ministry in Caterham.

With Best Wishes, Duncan Swan

"We seek to help not just at times of birth, marriage and death; but also at any time if anyone seeks spiritual advice
or support..."

We, as a church, seek to help not just at times of birth, marriage and death; but also if anyone seeks spiritual advice or support, and the clergy are always happy to visit the sick at home or in hospital if asked to do so.

We, however, also need your help! The cost of maintaining our two fine historic buildings and the ministry is a considerable amount - about £360 per day! If you appreciate the ministry and presence of St. Mary's Church could you help by making a donation?

We hold an annual Church Open Day when all people living in the parish are invited to come, to visit and view the church: the Church is open for several hours. The Churchwardens and clergy are always delighted to meet you: we always have a 'Gift Stall' to receive any financial donations people can offer. Alternatively you may wish to send a donation to the church via the Parish Office, at St.Paul's Centre, St.Mary's Church, Church Hill, Caterham, CR3 5RA

Thank you for reading this letter seeking your help;
and if we can help you please do contact us.