New interim team rector for Newport and Carisbrooke

Bishop Jonathan has appointed an experienced priest to be interim team rector of Newport and Carisbrooke with Gatcombe.

Canon Sarah Chapman will come out of retirement to take charge of Newport Minster, St John’s Newport, St Mary’s, Carisbrooke, and St Olave’s, Gatcombe. She’ll lead a team that includes the current team vicars, the Rev Emma Cooksey and the Rev Steve Sutcliffe.

She will move into the vicarage at Newport, and will take on this role on a part-time basis from 4 April. She is likely to hold this position for at least six months, but no longer than 18 months.

Sarah, who is now 67, was one of the first women to be ordained priest in 1994, and has served as vicar of St Mary Magdalen Sheet, within our diocese, as well as in Chichester, Winchester and Canterbury dioceses.

She and her husband Giles had retired to Portsmouth and members of the congregation at the Cathedral, she also is also currently and will remain one of the Cathedrals PtO’s.

We all wish Sarah the best of luck in her new role on the Isle of Wight.