Pastoral Vacancy

A Message from Martin

You may have heard that my ministry at Kingshill Baptist Church is coming to it’s conclusion, and Poppy, the boys and I will be leaving Little Kingshill in the summer. With the Cornerstone project complete, and community and church alike making good use of Kingshill Kitchen and the hall, it feels like the right time to move on. All three of our children are passing significant exam milestones this year, making it a convenient time for relocation, minimising disruption to their education.

I will have been minister at Kingshill Baptist Church for very nearly ten years as I depart, and I will be leaving with many happy memories – of the village and community as much as of the church.

My final Sunday service at Kingshill Baptist Church will be on July 27th , at 10am. We’ll be following the service with an extended period of coffee and cake; you’d be very welcome to join us, as we say goodbye and thank-you to church and community, alike.

A Message from the Church

We hope you’ll join with us in wishing Martin, Poppy and the family well as they prepare to depart from Little Kingshill. We have enjoyed the 10 years we have worked together, and would like to echo the invitation Martin has issued. 

Please join us on the 27th July at 10am for our Sunday service, or from 11.15/ 11.30am for cake! 
Help us send the Hatfields off in good style.

What Happens Next?

Baptist churches are free to choose and appoint their own ministers, so this is the journey we shall be undertaking following Martin’s departure.

We want to make sure we make the best appointment possible, and a minister and church need to be able to work well together, so the appointment process takes a while. Prospective ministers are usually engaged in a number of conversations, meetings, preaches and so on as we discern the right person to appoint. This process can take a long time; usually months for each candidate - perhaps even a couple of years overall.

In the meantime the church carries on regardless – there is nothing that a Baptist church cannot do without a minister (though in some areas the expertise and training an accredited minister receives is really helpful!). 

It’s likely that very little will change outwardly, our groups will still run, and you’ll still see representatives of the church engaged in the same activities. 

If you are the praying sort we would appreciate prayers as we undertake this process. Good vibes, friendly faces and encouraging comments are equally welcome!