Village residents joined with many others from across the Godalming, Busbridge and Hambledon Minster to say farewell to its rector, Rev Simon Taylor, as he and his family leave after almost 15 years.
At a packed service at Godalming Minster on Sunday (Jan 5th), Simon spoke with great fondness of his time serving the local church community, while others spoke of his achievements and challenges. He was given a big round of applause, and cakes, coffees and sparkling wine were served. Among other pieces of music, the Minster Choir gave a rendition of Handel’s Zadok the Priest.
At the end of the service, and with his wife Catherine and three sons, Jacob, Luke and Daniel, at his side he cut a celebration cake.
Simon arrived as rector of Busbridge and Hambledon churches in 2010 and soon became a familiar face as well as a driving force for change to more involve the church in local communities. This, ultimately, led to the creation of Godalming Minster, in early 2024.
The new Minster unites the town’s parish church of St Peter and St Paul with St John’s, Busbridge, St Peter’s, Hambledon, and St Mark’s, Ockford Ridge and refocuses both its resources and its outreach.
Simon was also instrumental in securing the future of our village church which, like many, was facing financial challenges. There was a real risk that the village would lose a dedicated vicar for the parish and its church being used for just occasional services.
Simon addressed villagers at special meetings in the village hall and gave a full and frank outline of the problems faced at St Peter’s. This resulted in a successful fund-raising campaign and the retention of a village vicar and the purchase of a new vicarage on Wormley Lane following the sale of the previous one at Mervil Bottom.
Hambledon’s vicar, Rev Simon Willetts, has been appointed as temporary replacement for Simon Taylor. The post for a Hambledon vicar is currently being advertised, as is the post of rector for Godalming Minster.
Simon, originally from Manchester and an avid football fan, started his working life as a teacher in West Sussex, becoming a deputy head before joining the Church and taking up his first post in 2004.
Simon has now been appointed to the leadership development team of CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society), a nationwide mission to bring the gospel to people across the UK. Its roots date back to the Industrial Revolution and one of its founders was Lord Shaftesbury, the pioneering social reformer.
Its purpose was to help the Anglican Church deliver its message at a time of massive social change and urban poverty. Today its mission is to promote effective local church ministry.
Simon Taylor goes with the best wishes of Hambledon parishioners and we wish him and his family well as they move from the area to their new home.
