Rev Sarah Sharp – Vicar
Rev Sarah Sharp – Vicar
Things you might want to know about your new vicar.
I am very happy to be called Sarah because it’s my name and it means princess!
I was born in Shipley, West Yorkshire and I am 57 in October (2024). My dad died at the beginning of 2021 and mum recently moved into Tall Trees. I have one sister, Ruth who is a teacher and lives in Banbury. Being a Yorkshire woman I can be rather down to earth and I prefer people to talk to me directly about things that may concern them in the church. I will inevitably do things my way because that’s what I am used to. Much of the time I will be happy to do it differently if you prefer it and I can break the habit of doing it another way! There are always compromises to be made and I am happy to have a chat about things but please don’t ambush me.
After leaving school I trained as a junior school (KS2) teacher like my mum as the church wasn’t yet ordaining women. I taught for eight years, six in Hereford and the final two on Ascension Island which was amazing. I left there in 1998 but I can still talk about it for hours so you have been warned. From there I went to theological college in Cambridge to train to be a priest like my dad, (and my maternal grandfather).
I returned to Hereford diocese to serve my curacy in Ross-on-Wye where I was fortunate to work in a large team with 14 churches of various sizes and a number of different clergy and laity to learn from.
My first post of responsibility was in the Lower Windrush Benefice in Witney deanery where I was rector of four parishes and two small church schools. I stayed for ten years. I began serving on the Diocesan Board of Education in 2004 and will take a breather at the end of the year when the triennium ends. I was given the opportunity to become a duty chaplain at Westminster Abbey and I try to spend a week up there every year.
In 2013 I moved to the Deddington Deanery to become the vicar of Bodicote. I became Area Dean in 2019 and gave up my volunteer role as chaplain to Thames Valley Police which I had been doing for ten years in order to find the time. I really enjoyed being Area Dean and became a member of Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council. I was also privileged to train a curate who has since taken up his own Benefice in the deanery.
At my interview the school worship leaders asked me what three words I would use to describe myself. I remember saying I would class hard-working as one word, I try to be generous and I hope the third word was kind. I enjoy meeting new people but I find it very tiring as I am naturally an introvert. I am truly terrible with names and faces and I would really appreciate you continually introducing yourself to me until at least Christmas. I will probably remember quite a lot about any conversations we may have had but your name will be a mystery. I am hoping to meet as many members of the church electoral rolls as soon as possible to hear what you have to say and think. It is very hard to know how to do this well and I may just turn up on a doorstep with the proviso that if it is inconvenient you can say so. Please don’t feed me too much cake. I am aware from the interview day that you have some amazing bakers in the congregation but I have worked hard to get back into my cassock. I tend to drink coffee, red wine and gin!
I have a hopeless sense of direction and will frequently get lost but I have learnt to use google maps as a SAT Nav. I confess to being technophobic and although I carry a mobile I prefer a landline and answer phone so that I can give people proper attention.
I really love the theatre. Oxford, Abingdon and Stratford aren’t too far away and I make the most of my week up in London to see some West End shows. I have an amazing friend who organizes theatre tickets so I get to see a large variety of things including films and live streams and am I pleased to still be near Chippy theatre which I think is amazing.
I have been really lucky to be able to indulge my passion for travel. This summer I have been on sabbatical and taken the opportunity to make some really lovely memories both with my sister in Europe and then with a teacher colleague whom I travel with every summer. This year we went to Vancouver and took the inner passage cruise to Alaska before taking the Rocky Mountaineer to Banff National Park. Unfortunately climate change is causing dreadful floodings and wildfires. Bodicote church have achieved their silver eco award after studying some of the issues during Lent.
I am looking forward to getting involved in the music of the church. I learnt the piano from the age of seven and played percussion in the Shropshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra. When I was teaching I played clarinet in a wind band and achieved my grade 8 at the age of 29. Unfortunately I don’t play much now so I have lost any skill I had.
I belong to a book group which broadens my horizons beyond the crime fiction that I would always turn to. I am currently reading Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis. We take it in turns to choose the titles. My last choice was Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women which is a fascinating exploration of the history of ordinary women in our country. The only complaint was it is rather long!
I am no athlete but I do plough up and down a swimming pool and I have checked out the leisure centre in Chipping Norton. I don’t mind a good walk preferably in the dry and with a good guide so I look forward to exploring the new area and getting to know you all.
Rev Karen Rizzello – Associate Priest
I moved at the end of last year (2022) from the Benefice of Lyneham with Woodhill, in Wiltshirewhere I was Associate priest.
I am married to Peter who I met at University many years ago. We spent some time in Canada early in our marriage and have travelled a fair bit. We enjoy travel, theatre, films, festivals and concerts together.
I have served as a Church Warden and have been a member of various PCC’s and Synods in the past. I have the honour of being a Canon Emeritus of Salisbury Cathedral.
I became a vicar after a career in Information Technology. I trained for ministry at Sarum College in Salisbury.
I have always felt that God has played a major part in my life, at the worst of times and at the best. As this new chapter begins, I am looking forward to getting to know the people of the Wychwoods. Say hello if you see me.
God Bless, Karen.
