Grove Park church welcomes new vicar

Image above: Rev Caroline Halmshaw (fourth from the right in front row ) with the Bishop of Kensington and other clergy

New vicar welcomed by local community leaders

Grove Park Church congregation have welcomed their new vicar, after a well-attended ceremony inducting Reverend Caroline Halmshaw as the new vicar took place on Monday, (24 July).

The event was presided over by the Right Reverend Dr Emma Ineson, the Bishop of Kensington. Assisting her was the Venerable Richard Frank, the Archdeacon of Middlesex. Numerous distinguished guests and community members were also present to celebrate the occasion.

The Rev’d Simon Brandes, Patron, and Vicar of St Nicholas’s Church in Chiswick, extended his support, as did the Area Dean, Rev’d Martine Oborne, Vicar of St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road. Ruth Cadbury, the MP for Brentford and Isleworth, was also present.

Representatives from various faiths were there. Charanjit Arit Singh, Chair of Hounslow Friends of Faith, and Father Michael Dunne of Our Lady of Grace & St Edwards attended, along with Bessie Woods, representing the local Quaker community.

Local councillors also took part in the induction ceremony. Councillor Gabriella Giles from Riverside Ward, London Borough of Hounslow, was present, along with Councillor Gerald McGregor and former councillors Paul Lynch and Sam Hearn. Jeremy Day, Commercial Director of Whitman & Co., represented Chiswick’s business community.

Images above: Rev Caroline Halmshaw during the ceremony, Rev Caroline Halmshaw

Getting to know her new parish

The ceremony was complemented by singing of the choir of St Paul’s Grove Park, with assistance from choir members from St Nicholas and St Michael’s Elmwood Road. They were under the direction of St Paul’s organist, Tom Torley. However, a personal touch was added to the occasion when soloist Miranda Johnson, a dear friend of Rev’d Halmshaw and her husband, sang the hymn As The Deer Pants for the Water.

The Reverend Caroline Halmshaw brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Before taking up the position at St Paul’s, she served as the Associate Vicar at St Mary with St Alban in Teddington. Additionally, she worked as the part-time Director of Post-Ordination Training for the Kensington Area of the London Diocese, supporting newly ordained curates as they embarked on their parish life journey.

Rev’d Halmshaw was ordained in 2018 and trained at St Mellitus College to become a priest. Prior to her ministry training, she had a successful career in nursing and midwifery. After further studies, she contributed to International Development in the charity sector, with a focus on health programme, especially maternal health and reproductive rights.

With her husband Rick and their 15-year-old son Alec, Rev’d Halmshaw has lived mainly in London and Brighton, although they both grew up in Radlett, Hertfordshire. It was in Radlett during her teenage years that she began her journey of faith, with her mother, Stella, being ordained in 1987.

Rev’d Halmshaw’s predecessor, Reverend Michael Riley, dedicated more than 33 years of service to St. Paul’s Church before retiring last July.

As the new vicar, Reverend Caroline Halmshaw says she is eager to immerse herself in her new community. Over the summer the family will settle into the vicarage, and she is set to conduct her first Sunday Eucharist service on 3 September at 10.00 am.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar