About our new priest - The Reverend Louise Vincer
About our new priest Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the Chartham benefice. Interim Ministry is a new ministry within the church of England designed to help congregations address particular pastoral needs. An Interim Minister is not a locum priest but someone with a specific remit.
In consultation with the PCCs, Rev Louise Vincer has been appointed as Interim priest in charge in the Chartham benefice to work with the congregations of St Mary’s, Chartham, St Peter & St Paul, Upper Hardres and St Mary’s, Stelling in developing relationships and growing ministry and mission. This is a short-term appointment, half time for six months, and is renewable once. Louise’s main work will therefore be with the Churchwardens and PCC members, but she looks forward to getting to know the congregations and communities of the benefice where possible too.
Louise is new to Canterbury diocese. She moved in the summer with her family: husband Andrew Dodd (residentiary canon at Canterbury Cathedral), and their children Miriam and Benedict, and they live in Canterbury. Louise was ordained in 2000 and has worked in parishes in Essex, south east London, and Lincoln diocese, most recently as Interim Minister at St Peter’s, Humberston on the outskirts of Grimsby.
The first hymn at The Licensing of The Reverend Louise as Interim Priest “God is Here” reminds us that as we worship, both by zoom and across the churches of the benefice, God’s presence unites us in praise and service, and in faith and fellowship, wherever we are.