Fr Bruce-Julian to leave Hornsey Parish Church

A Personal Message

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Dear friends,

 

With very mixed feelings, I am announcing today that, after nearly fourteen very happy years, I will be leaving Hornsey Parish later this Summer. My last Sunday will be September 14th, with a Mass of thanksgiving on the evening of Thursday 11th September, followed by a gala celebration. Please save these dates.

 

I have been appointed as Vicar of St Mark’s, Lakenham, a small parish in the city of Norwich, and will combine this role with that of Chaplain​ to Pilgrims at the Julian Shrine, also in Norwich, with a particular ministry there with visit​ors and retreatents. I anticipate this will be a less pressured role, offering opportunities to focus more upon my deepening formation as a Julian Oblate, with more time to offer for the ministry of spiritual direction, along with a continuing ministry as a parish priest.

 

When Bishop Peter, then Bishop of Edmonton, invited me to be Rector of Hornsey in 2011, I could never have known what a privilege it would be to serve in such a delightful parish. Hornsey was a very happy, loving and accepting home for both Trevor and I for many years, and has continued to be so for me since his death in 2021. For this I am hugely grateful.

 

Whilst there is never a good time for an incumbent to leave a parish, after a long discernment on what God is calling me to be and do as I embark upon another chapter of priestly ministry, I feel excited and called to this new venture. And if I am going to move, 2025 seems a relatively good year to move for a number of reasons:

 

• With Mthr Clemency entering her final year as a curate, there is a full time priest in place to accompany the church through an interregnum during which time my successor can be recruited and settled in;

 

• Our church is growing numerically, and feels in a good and confident place of understanding of its distinctive mission and gifts to be passed on to a new Rector to lead and develop;

 

• And our much prayed for 60/60 redevelopment is at the stage where work can begin on Phase 1 after a critical period of design, planning, and the launching of our fundraising campaign- Open Door continues to be led by a gifted team who will bring the necessary consistency to see this first phase through beyond my time as incumbent.

 

I feel I am stepping away from a vibrant and growing church, and am confident that there is much to celebrate life of Hornsey Parish Church; about this I hope you agree. 

 

The next four months will not be easy as we all prepare for a significant transition, and I ask you to pray for me, Mthr Clemency, the Churchwardens and PCC, and one another, as members of Christ’s church here. 

 

Also, I will be grateful if you might remember St Mark’s, Lakenham, and the Julian Shrine, where this news is also being shared today.

 

With the assurance of my love and prayers 

 

Fr Bruce-Julian