Date: 28 April 2022
The Revd Kia Pakenham was licensed as Rector for the parish of Abinger, Coldharbour, Wotton and Holmbury St Mary recently.
The former nurse had lived and worshipped at Wonersh for 25 years. Kia felt the call of a vocation after playing an active part in the life of the parish over a number of years.
She joined the diocesan Local Ministry Programme, which develops various lay ministry ministries. But as she began her curacy, Kia felt God nudging her to ‘stretch a bit more’. So, she changed to a primary leadership training track, which meant she could apply for an incumbent's role.
“I’ve always had a hunger to do rural ministry,” she admits. “I originally come from a local village outside Cambridge and I was very drawn to the rural ministry and village life. I think Abinger is the most rural parish in the diocese, so you could say I’ve nailed it,” she says.
Abinger is a House for Duty post. “I get a house in a beautiful part of the county,” says Kia, but no stipend as she is self-supporting.?
She says she is looking forward to getting to know everybody, but, “I’m hopeless with names,” she admits, but is looking forward to journey with the community, helping to deepen their faith. “I hope to bring a bit more living water to the community,” she says.
Kia recognises that rural ministry does have its own special challenges. “Change is slow,” she accepts. “It’s all about listening, honouring tradition and place.” But change, done gently and in the right way, is the path forward. “It’s about taking the people with you,” she says.