Matthew, my esteemed Rector, Training Incumbent and husband, suggested that I write a short article introducing myself for those who don’t know me very well.

My father was a priest, ultimately Bishop of Crediton and my Austrian mother was an Austrian interpreter – for church organisations. They were both deeply involved in ecumenism, my mother setting up the Council of Churches in Devon – which locally became CTIC. I grew up in various vicarages – in those days much larger, but colder than they are today. But against a background of theology and church going as a given. My call to ordination was somewhat masked because I thought it was normal to go to church, and work for the church, and I ignored all the people nudging me towards ministry. But be warned you can’t ignore the God forever.

When I was making career choices in the 1980s it was not possible for women to be ordained. After studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, I had some time out, and not sure what to do, my mother sent me to learn shorthand and typing… and I got a job in a Theological Publishing House. I ended up in Church House in London – where the Synod meets. It was interesting being at the heart of church politics, but I got bored with publishing and retrained as an IT consultant, working on large corporate databases and spending all my time in dark computer rooms . My then step-son – aged nine – suggested that I become a priest .. which was the start of the serious journey towards ordination.

Whilst living in Somerset I got involved as much as I could with my local church– I was sacristan (good at laying out vestments for visiting clergy, and priming the incense), emergency organist (not a good experience for the congregation as I am about Grade 3 standard), and I ran the Church Fete, and no, I am not open to offers.

I was also PCC Secretary and ran Messy Church. All in small rural parishes – which I loved.

During this time, our Benefice had a new Incumbent… the rest is history. If you want to fill a church, marry your vicar!

In 2019 we moved to Crediton – which was wonderful as I have very fond memories of coming to midnight mass here wearing tinsel in my hair.  Some parishoners remember that.

I was interested in doing more Bible Study so enrolled on the Foundations course, and then it was suggested that rather than being licenced for a variety of different roles in the Church such as youth leader, worship leader etc, if I became a Reader I could do the lot.  So I trained for 2  years and was licenced as a Licenced Lay Minister in 2022…. Then Bishop Mike arrived and asked his Archdeacons to recommend people who might make good locally ordained priests…. God works through other people all the time. I was so excited I couldn’t believe my luck.

When I finish my curacy, I will stay put and be deployed as a self-supporting (unpaid) assistant priest in this ministry team.  I will be able to lead all the services, including Communion and Weddings, but won’t be in charge of a parish.

What I have learned is patience – God’s time is not our time.  But also don’t ignore the little ideas and promptings. They will surprise you. God pushes us out of our comfort zones, but we can do it.

I would like to thank everyone for the massive support and encouragement I have received on my journey to ordination.  I could not have done it without you.

With all my love and many blessings

Antonia