Bob will be formally welcomed to the benefice at the 10am Trinity service at All Saints' church, Barwick on June 11th before meeting the individual congregations in the weeks following.
Bob, Jess, Rose, Reuben and Jacob.
Hello! I’m Bob Bailey, married to Jess and we have three young children, Rose (9), Reuben (7) and Jacob (5). I will be the Assistant Curate under Andy’s care from the summer after completing my training at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
Jess is originally from Stockport and I am from Newmarket. We all enjoy being creative, especially the visual arts and music. I play bass guitar and Jess is a cellist. Our passion has been working with teenagers, especially an annual youth camp at Hilfield Friary in Dorset with the Society of St. Francis. We enjoy rambling across the countryside in our camper van.
It feels very natural to be returning to the Leeds area after a twenty year gap. Jess and myself met while at University in Leeds where I studied graphic design and Jess trained as a fine artist. Jess continued painting and working as an archive conservator, while I worked as a graphic designer and website developer.
For the last fifteen years we worshipped at St. Helen’s Church in Sandal, Wakefield. For eleven of those years I worked part time as the parish administrator. During this time I came to love and appreciate parish life and felt a calling to the Priesthood. We finally took the plunge and moved to Durham eighteen months ago so I could train for ordination at Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College where I have been studying for a Diploma in Theology and Mission.
Durham has been a wonderful rich experience for us as a family. As well as being a beautiful place to live, it has been very enriching with challenging lectures, a vibrant community and a wide variety of placement experiences. The children have a adapted well to leaving the family home and moving to a totally new place. They have made many new friends and are looking forward to living back in this beautiful corner of Yorkshire. Jess is hoping to start painting and exhibiting art and I will be serving and learning alongside you under Andy’s guidance.
We are most excited about are continuing to grow in love for Jesus, getting to know you all and be part of your community while sharing our faith journey together as we say yes to God. This is a wonderful opportunity for us as a family and we look forward to seeing you all very soon. As we prepare to move you can be assured of our prayers and we ask that you may pray for us too.
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me
true faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.
Amen.
(Prayer from St Francis of Assisi before the Crucifix at San Damiano)
Blessings, Bob
