Kathryn Tucker, Church Warden of Exford and General Synod member has been invited by the Archbishop of York to take part in the national discussions about the rural church. She is to join five others who have been selected to write a blog about the rural church for the national church website.
Katherine, who is also a Secretary, Deanery Rep, Safeguarding Officer, and works with schools, alongside her role as a partner in the family's hill farm on a remote part of Exmoor, says she undertakes these roles “with a willing heart,” but stresses that it is not always easy to balance everything.
Katheryn was contacted by Archbishop Stephen after her comments on the Vision and Strategy report were forwarded to him. She told him, “We are limited here with finance and resources, but as much as possible pre covid, the church fully involved ourselves with local schools, taking assemblies, volunteering, going on pilgrimage walks and visits to Wells Cathedral. During COVID we kept in touch taking weekly Zoom services and church guardian meetings, now we are hoping to arrange involvement with church services and assemblies, it really is extremely positive.
“But we do need encouragement from the main body of the church recognising the positive measures taking place, and not to be just a small part of God’s world. The rural life is quite simply the best of what is good, and CHRIST filled - simple but loving, reaching out to everyone when and where they need us. We are all part of God’s family and do this with great joy.”
Kathryn says she is delighted to be able to speak up for the rural church at a national level, “there are so many good things going on, it is wonderful to be able to share them with people, and to know that the voice of the rural church is being heard alongside that of the urban churches.”
Rev David Weir, Rector of Exmoor says of Kathryn, “She is a great example of a rural churchwarden, offering the local church and the whole community resilient continuity, lifelong experience of the rhythms of country life; well balanced with generous and sensitive openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to new ideas and questions from the whole parish, in the best Anglican tradition of the care for the souls of all parishioners: people of all faiths and none and I along the whole Exmoor Benefice am very encouraged that Kathryn's voice is being heard in the national church discussions."
