Taken from February 2026 newsletter

To my lovely new church family,
Well, what can I say, it’s been a few mad weeks! Almost nothing has gone quite
according to plan so far, but I’m constantly telling friends and family that in the
midst of the madness, the welcome and the kindnesses that I’ve received from my
new church family – whether it has been flowers, or kettles, or coffee and a chat, or
kind words – have been the light shining in the darkness – so thank you!
I’m safely installed in my new apartment in Boulogne, with a beautiful view overlooking the Basilique.
My piano is on its side, my internet isn’t working, my Border Collie (Noggin) and cat (Kisa) are still
wondering what on earth is going on, and I’m surrounded by boxes…. but all is well and I am so
delighted to be here.
There’s still some to-ing and fro-ing to be done back to the UK (I’m trying to sell a house in
Lincolnshire as well as move out of a vicarage in Kent), and lots to sort out, but I’m grateful that this
new phase of ministry gives me the time and the space to do all of that. I’m trying to curb my natural
tendency to want everything to be sorted out as of yesterday and instead accept this as a journey of
little steps.
I was particularly keen to join you in Advent. We didn’t quite manage to make that happen at the
very beginning of Advent, but to be with you for the new church year felt really important, because
this is a new beginning – for you, and for me, and for us as we journey as disciples of Jesus together.
(I’ll be exploring the theme of ‘beginnings’ in the Lent course that I’m offering to you (further details
in this newsletter). If you would like to take part, please email me at church.teena@gmail.com
and I’ll send you a Doodlepoll or email so that you can let me know which sessions you will be able to
attend – they will be stand-alone, so if you can’t make one, don’t worry, you can still come to the
other sessions.) So, to finish – a brief bio.
I was born and raised in rural Lincolnshire, the eldest of four daughters. After school I went to Exeter
University to study European Law, with a Diplome de Droit Prive at the Universite d’Aix-Marseille III. I
wasn’t really cut out to be a lawyer, so followed this with a Masters in European Social Policy at the
University of Bath, with a study sejour in Brussels. I then worked in local government for 20 years,
until I was retired on ill-health grounds in 2013 after 3 years of significant illness and disability.
I came to faith in 2011, quite out of the blue, in a totally transformative experience which I’ll no
doubt share with you in future. After serving as an authorised lay minister, I began pre-ordination
study at the Lincoln School of Theology in 2016, becoming one of their longest-standing students,
undertaking a Masters in Theology, Ministry and Mission during my curacy. The first part of my
curacy was spent at Nettleham Parish on the outskirts of Lincoln, then I was seconded in my second
year to hold the fort at Grimsby Minster, which was in interregnum. After 10 months in Grimsby, I
took my first incumbency post in Ashford Town Parish, as Team Vicar with special responsibility for
ministry to lowest income communities. Then last year I saw the advert for the role in the Pas-de
Calais…having spent time here on placement before ordination I had no hesitation in applying.
And here I am! – I’ve two adult (ish)! sons, both in Lincoln – Alexander (21) who is a prison officer and
Harry (19) who works for East Midlands Railway. Both are ex-choristers of Lincoln Cathedral, and
talented musicians. Many of you have already met my partner Ben, who works as a chocolatier in
Ashford (and is also an ex-chorister – of St. Asaph Cathedral in Wales). We all love to sing!
And a final note – the purple hair. Purple is my favourite colour. Many priests wear clerical shirts in
different colours. As an Anglo-Catholic my preference is for black, but if I were to wear any other
colour, I’d probably want to choose purple – only I can’t because it’s the episcopal colour! Purple is
special to me because it’s the colour that I see when deep in prayer, in moments when I see God in
action, at the times when I need to be reassured of God’s presence. Purple reminds me that God
is with me. I can’t (and don’t want to!) wear a purple shirt – but I can put it in my hair – and so, I do! Looking forward to all that lies ahead – God goes with us.