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In 2000 classes 3S and 3D went on a Kettlewells double decker bus to Southwell Minster for Time Travelling.

Upon pulling up outside, a 7-year-old me could not remember seeing such a big and beautiful building. When Time Travelling, we joined several hundred other children sitting on the floor of the Minster. I sat on the right and the very front and looked up at Jesus suspended from the ceiling. He seemed so very very high up! We then broke into little groups and learned more about the Minster and Christianity. In one session I had my first taste of a communion wafer and put it in my left hand and ate it like my Mum did in Church.

It was a wonderful day.

Wind forward a few years and I learned that Southwell Minster was the Cathedral for our area. Our area is a called a diocese, which is a bit like a county. The Bishop who lives near the Minster looks after the diocese.

Our diocese, Southwell and Nottingham, has become home for me. It's rare to find a large community of people who are so loving, kind and willing to invest. If it hadn't been for the people of the diocese I wouldn't be getting ordained this month. They believed in me and saw something in me that I could barely see in myself. 

It was such a shock when I was invited to go on the link developing trip the Burundi when I was 19. Me? Really? Would you not rather take someone else? 

No, Bishop Paul B did want me to go. 

But then I needed £1400 to go on the trip. £1400?! How was that ever going to happen?!

Bishop Paul said the money would come.

'It flipping won't' I thought to myself. 'Nobody will give me that kind of money!'

Within 3 weeks of launching the fundraising campaign there was enough money for the trip, my jabs, all the gear I needed and more. So many people were generous, but it was thanks to a lot of people in Southwell and Nottingham diocese that the money was raised. 

I have represented the diocese on the National Youth Council, I have been guided through discerning a call to ordination, I have been on a Vacancy in See Committee, I have been funded through Vicar School, I have had 2 excellent placements, all because of the diocese.

Bishop Paul B, Bishop Tony, Bishop Richard, Bishop Paul W, Rosemary, Phil W, Sue HH, Julia, Tony W, Angela, Naomi, Sarah C, Ade, Alison, the list of people from the diocese who invested in me and have helped make me who I am knows no end.

So it should be no surprise to me that as I head to Liverpool, I do so with excitement, joy, happiness, contentment... and sadness. Saying goodbye to Southwell is going to be hard. But curacy isn't forever, and who knows what the future holds?

But just as the diocese has formed me, one place in particular has done more than that, it has raised me. 

All Halows, Ordsall, it's people and Reverend Sue Caddy are who I owe my biggest thanks to. This Church, this little church in the ever expanding village of Ordsall, is utterly wonderful. I am honoured to have seen it grow over the past 20 years. I have learned how to love people, to grow together, to preach the Good News and to build the kingdom. There is so much going on faithfully, firmly and quietly. Anyone who thinks Church success is just about numbers is wrong. It's about the way Jesus is proclaimed in that context. And believe me, he really is. I'm not saying it's perfect- like every family, it's messy at times! But that Church, and it's leader, are successfully building the Kingdom in Ordsall. And I will aim to copy that example everywhere I go. 

So thank you Southwell and Nottingham, and thank you All Hallows, Ordsall.