Retired Clergy are an important part of the life of the diocese and provide vital support, ministry and leadership in many places. This series shares the stories of some of these valued people.

From POT to PTO – a personal journey of faith

Revd John Hereward shares his story: “I recently attended the service of consecration as bishop of a friend of ours. She had been part of a group I had nurtured some 30 years ago in my role as a Post Ordination Training (POT) tutor. It made me realise that I had gone from being a receiver and provider of POT to now being a minister with PTO (permission to officiate). In between I had led a pioneering church graft and combined parish ministry with a part-time job as an A&E specialist in the local hospital in London. During this time, I also completed an MA in Celtic Christianity and became a Voyager with the community of Aidan and Hilda.

“When I turned 60, I took my NHS pension with gratitude, walked the Camino then moved to become Rector of St Breoke and Egloshayle in Wadebridge. We have quite a lot of family living in Cornwall not to mention many ancestors buried here. There was a strong sense of home coming. For a variety of reasons, I retired from stipendiary ministry six years ago and we moved to a delightful cottage just outside Bodmin.

“During my six months of a (strongly advised) break from ministry we started attending the local village church in Cardinham. After a while, and with due process, I was appointed the “focal minister” there as part of the Bodmin team. In effect this means taking the twice a month communion services and the not too numerous baptisms, weddings and funerals. I also exercise pastoral oversight and have become a governor at the local village school. This is the bedrock of my current ministry.

“I continue to be passionate about pilgrimage and the Celtic saints so have taken great pleasure in working alongside Nigel and Penny Marns in helping to develop the Cornish Celtic Way. I have led a number of the guided walks and been part of the planning group.

“I am also passionate about care of creation and alongside my brother give talks on behalf of Arocha a Christian conservation charity. I am hugely encouraged by the way churches are starting to respond to the climate crisis.

“On the Sundays when I am not committed at St Meubred’s (and even on some of those when I am!) I am very happy to help in churches around the area. Without exception this ministry has been well-received, and I particularly appreciated helping out in a nearby church that had been going through a really difficult time.

“One area of ministry that has grown since “retirement” is our involvement with the local Foodbank. I have been a trustee for many years, but it was only during Covid lockdowns that we were able to volunteer on the frontline. This we now do on a regular basis.

“In summary I am finding my current ministry very rewarding. There is a lot of continuity with what has gone before and a real sense of building on what has been a varied and fruitful journey – long may it last!”

If you are a retired clergy person or considering retirement, you may be interested in joining ‘The Prepared to Retire Well & Beyond’ group which is aimed at helping retired priest to flourish. The group meet every eight weeks. To find out more or join please contact Mel Pomery at melanie.pomery@truro.anglican.org