Where are you from? I grew up in East London, but was born in Ascot. My Dad’s family are from Punjab, North India, and my Mum’s family originated in South India (Tamil Nadu), though they currently are in Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu, Borneo). Travelling is in my blood- and reading Geography at University (and then teaching Geography) was a natural choice!
How did you find St Margaret’s? I did a preaching placement at St Giles, and having got on so well with Andrew, came to find out more about the benefice, and St Margaret’s. We came along one Sunday morning to a fantastic welcome at Sunday School, and then to the SAMMY’s concert that evening. We’ve been coming ever since!
What do you do here? Juggle four year olds (usually my own), with one off Sunday school sessions! During the week I share in a Bible Study. I’ve also led evening prayer on a Sunday here with much help from the congregation- which was hugely appreciated! I’ve rung and explored the bell tower at St Giles, and I also contribute to the social media for St Giles, as well as the website.
What do you like about the church?
The Love. It’s front and centre here, and is also my fullest and most essential understanding of Faith. The Love of God has no boundaries, no prerequisites, and includes all. I was especially encouraged and heartened by Jayne Ozanne being invited to, and leading, the Holy Week talks this year. That level of radical love, and radical inclusion is electrifying, especially in this global climate of division and change .
The Fellowship. From the openness to have three year olds carry “the boat” (to varying success!), and the common Love that means that children being children is okay. Where else would you have a three year old with a responsibility for a distinct part of the service? It’s a real blessing to be a part of life here, where Ranjini and Rajvir can ‘just be’, and I am incredibly grateful to Liz and her Sunday School planning that is amazing, and follows the lectionary(!) – you can see the seeds of deep faith growing in the children already. People are authentic and caring, and that’s how community grows.
The Acceptance. Everyone’s accepted- including single parents, childminders, those whom come as often as they can, those whom are just passing through; and each are loved and as much of the congregation as the other. Freya (my wife) is the Children’s worker at St Clements Church, which means Sundays are the busiest day of the week for her. Rather than have the children struggle to share ‘Mama’ with ‘The Church’, and all that could bring, it is wonderful to be able to explore the church tradition of my childhood, in a community where the children want to come, feel safe, and are incredibly happy. And the parents I’ve spoken to here really understand that. It also means that Freya has a place to come on a Saturday, to SAMS and SAMMYS, and just be ‘Mama’. Rajvir calls this ‘our family church’.
The Icons and the Crucifix outside. Our children first called this the ‘Jesus Church’, because you can see him everywhere. You don’t fully realise the teaching value and opportunities that these traditions have until you’re suddenly plunged into a deep theological discussion as you answer the curious questions of a four year old. Closing the Polyptych behind the high altar on Maundy Thursday also conveyed a meaning beyond words; another education for this Wycliffe Hall student!
What are you looking forward to over the next few months? The talks at St Giles has been very exciting to be a part of; as has the Blessing of the Animals to plan, and I look forward to seeing the plans come to life. I’m also excited by the prayer thoughts being emailed out during the term, and the responses to them (you’ll have to guess whom wrote which!).
What three words would you use to describe your faith?
Faithful – Because faith is moving without knowing. And if you’d told me ten years ago that I would resign from being Assistant Principal to become an ordinand, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Or spoken to you again.
Hopeful – Because the best is yet to come. And there’s always light, no matter how hard the darkness tries to extinguish it. We need to cling on to Hope as our sure foundation. Especially in a world so broken and full of hurt.
Loving – When I was teaching, we would point to ‘gospel based interactions’ in the school. That meant individual interactions and conversations, following the example of Jesus in the Gospels. Love doesn’t mean compromising, or being weak, or soft. In fact, most of the time, being Loving is the hardest thing to do. And we’re called to do it anyway!
Tell us something most people would never guess about you… I have been part of a team that helped translate a Biblical Hebrew engraving in the crypt of Glasgow Cathedral. Even I wouldn’t have guessed that a year ago!