We are delighted to announce that the Bishop of Southwark, in consultation with benefice reps, has appointed the Revd Melanie Harrington as Incumbent of the United Benefice of Kew, St Philip & All Saints with St Luke in the Deanery of Richmond and Barnes, subject to the usual legal formalities.
Melanie is currently Assistant Curate, St Michael’s Lichfield & St John’s Wall in the Diocese of Lichfield, where she also serves as a Vocations Adviser.
Before ordination Melanie studied at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, where she completed a PhD in Early Modern History, and completed her ordination training at Ripon College Cuddesdon and the University of Oxford. She was on her way to becoming a University Lecturer when she discerned a call to ministry and life has never been the same since!
Melanie is absolutely delighted to be appointed Vicar of The Barn Church & St Luke’s, and is looking forward to starting this new chapter of her ministry and getting to know you all. She has two children, Vera (10) and George (8), who are very excited about joining you in Kew and Mummy being your new Vicar. In her free time Melanie enjoys cooking for others, gardening, theatre, running, and spending time with her children.
Our Archdeacon, the Venerable John Kiddle, writes
I am delighted that Melanie Harrington has been appointed as the next incumbent of this benefice. We were blessed with a good number of applicants and a strong shortlist. Melanie will bring many wonderful gifts and the richness of thought and creativity, she will be a great gift to you and to Kew as you will be to her in this next chapter of her ministry.
I know that you will be praying for Melanie and her children, Vera and George, as they prepare to move to Kew. May this be a real home for them and a place in which they flourish; and may you flourish as a united benefice as you walk with Melanie in this next chapter.
It is anticipated that Melanie will move to Kew at the start of June and that she will be instituted by the Bishop of Kingston towards the end of that month.
We look forward to welcoming her then.