It can be a daunting experience to enter an unfamiliar church for the first time. Being new as Team Rector is rather different from that normal experience of not quite knowing which books to use or where to sit. But being new I can say that the welcome offered at St Mary’s is a warm invitation to join in – of course there will be nerves on the first occasion or two – I am still familiar with the feeling that I might drop something or lose my place in the service.

My first experience of St Barnabas is yet to come – and I am looking forward to it.

However new you are, I look forward to meeting you all in the weeks to come.