We're very glad to announce that The Revd Sam Rylands has been appointed as the next Vicar of St Andrew's. Fr Sam is currently serving as a Curate at St Luke's and Christ Church Chelsea and will join us next year around May/June.

Sam writes, "My name is Sam, and I’m delighted to have the privilege of serving the parish of St Andrew’s as your next Vicar. Together with my wife Lily and our two-year-old son Josiah (Jos), we will be moving from Chelsea, where I have been serving as Curate at St Luke’s and Christ Church. During this time, I’ve been kept busy with the breadth of parish ministry, as well as the birth of Jos! As a Chelsea FC fan (please forgive me), I’m delighted that his passport will forever list “Chelsea” as his place of birth!

Before this, we were in Bristol, where I trained for ordination, alongside my placement at Bristol Cathedral, where I focused on the Cathedral’s outreach among homeless people living in the city. Lily and I first met when I was a Youth and Community Worker at Tollington Parish, in Finsbury Park. Some would call me a perpetual student, first studying International Relations and Global Issues at Nottingham and Melbourne, before reading Theology at Cambridge. I’ve now merged these two interests into a PhD, which is exploring the church’s engagement in politics through the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Rowan Williams.

   I love watching and playing most sports, especially football, rugby, and cricket, and also “enjoy” running, cycling, and rowing.

We are really excited about joining the church community at St Andrew’s, meeting you all, and sharing in God’s life with you as a parish. Please be assured of our prayers for you all, and please keep us in your prayers as we finish in Chelsea and prepare for this exciting next chapter."

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We are incredibly grateful as a parish for Rev'd Anne's commitment to serving us throughout this time of vacancy and are glad she will continue to do so until Easter. Rev'd Anne very generously delayed her own retirement to remain with us throughout this period - thank you, Anne!