The next Rector of Sandwich and Worth Benefice

On Sunday, 17th September 2023, the Revd Sebastian Hamilton was instituted and inducted as Rector to the Benefice of Sandwich and Worth.

Sebastian observes: I am so thankful for the warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Benefice of Sandwich and Worth on Sunday - no one could have experienced the atmosphere both during worship, and over refreshments afterwards, without leaving certain that the Benefice is full of potential.
There's a hunger here to go deeper in spirituality and worship, and for this to be the foundation for new and exciting engagement with the local communities.
I'm so excited to see where God takes us all in the years to come. - Fr Sebastian Hamilton, new Rector of Sandwich and Worth

---

By way of introduction, Sebastian writes:
I am absolutely thrilled to accept the calling to be Rector of Sandwich and Worth. In the visits I have made over the last month I have been really struck by the life of both communities, and the evident beauty and faithfulness of St Clement and Ss Peter and Paul, and the potential to do so much together in the years ahead.

I grew up in a small village in Gloucestershire, initially setting up a company offering website design and IT support when I left school. Gradually I sensed a vocation to ordained ministry, and I spent a year testing this as a Pastoral Assistant near Woking.

I undertook formation and study in Theology at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, before returning to the Diocese of Gloucester to be Curate first at Tewkesbury Abbey, and then Curate in charge of St Stephen’s, Tivoli, in Cheltenham.

For the last year I have had ministry in the newly formed Severn Wye Ministry Area just over the bridge into Wales, while undertaking some study into the pros and cons of online worship.

I’m passionate about beautiful worship, celebrating the English Choral Tradition, making our Churches accessible to new believers without sacrificing integrity and depth, and getting out into our communities.
Parish Churches have a unique ability to be a uniting force in their local areas, drawing together people and groups, and there’s evidently huge potential for all these things in both Sandwich and Worth.

I can’t wait to share in this ministry with you all soon. Until then please do keep me in your prayers, along with Rhys and our cat Alfie, as we say goodbye to Chepstow - you are all in my prayers daily.

The Revd Sebastian Hamilton +++