Christchurch is fortunate to be served by two ministers at present. Our minister in pastoral charge is Rev Andrew Farrington, a minister in the Methodist Trinity Circuit. He is assisted by our Associate Baptist Minister, Rev John Rackley.
Rev Andrew Farrington
Ordained in 2002, I have been honoured to have served as Superintendent Minister for all but 5 years of ordained ministry. I have a heart for the gospel of community engagement and social change to be shown and lived.
Working ecumenically and with other faith traditions is key. I find reward in enabling and encouraging others to use or develop their skills, talents, and graces. Enjoy a variety of worship styles and formats from liturgical, through all-age & Messy Church, to calmer Taizé and Iona spiritualities.
My initial career was in banking, working for Lloyds for 28 years. Married to Fiona, with three adult daughters Hannah, Lucy, & Sophie and blessed with two grandchildren Daisy & Noah. Since secondary school I have always been part of a drama group and have performed in comedies, plays, pantomimes (a great Dame and Baddie), Shakespeare, and musicals (though you would never ask me to sing a solo). I gain relaxation from attending theatre performances, especially at the RSC in Stratford-on-Avon. Try and exercising in a gym most days.
Rev John Rackley
John has been a minister at Christchurch for the last six years. His responsibilities include preaching and developing the discipleship formation of the congregation. He has served churches in Cardiff, Buckinghamshire, Bath and Leicester. He has also worked as a bus conductor, a secondary school teacher and a presenter on religious programmes for BBC Radio.
His Christian journey began in Devon where he was brought up by a Baptist father and Anglican mother. He was baptised as a believer having found Jesus a fascinating person who was and is still able to create a relationship with God for him. He was a member of the Iona Community whose Peace and Justice Witness continues to be deeply influential and after a number of visits to the West Bank John has a deep commitment to the needs of the Palestinian people especially through Embrace the Middle East, a charity which works to help marginalised and vulnerable communities in the Middle East.
Now in semi-retirement John spends his time enjoying time with his family with his wife Mary, writing notes for the Bible Reading Fellowship, hill-walking, travelling around the country following his lifetime’s enthusiasm for the fortunes of Plymouth Argyle FC, in complete contrast leading retreats and quiet days and acting as a supervisor for spiritual directors. He finds great hope in the words of the apostle Paul that ‘for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face’.
John has his own blog here: windingquest.wordpress.com