March 2025
The Revd John Rees has been active in ministry in the Parish of Bridport for just over a year now, so we thought it was time we caught up with him to find out how things are going – and to learn a bit more about his life and career…
The Bridge: A hearty – but rather belated – welcome to Bridport, John! First, can you explain how you fit into the Parish of Bridport team?
The Revd John Rees: I’m one of two associate priests in the team: the other is Lorna Johnson. We’re both ‘non-stipendiary’, meaning we’re not paid by the church for our parish work; Lorna works for the Diocese of Salisbury in another capacity, and for the parish as a volunteer. I was a rector in Wiltshire and am now retired from paid ministry. I spend about 25 hours each week on parish work.
TB: So do you have specific responsibilities?
JR:I lead the schools ministry previously led by Pete Stone, so I’m involved at St Mary’s Primary School, where I’ve recently become a local governor. I’m also beginning to support Bridport Primary school as well as supporting young people in other ways. I’m working with the St Mary’s headteacher and the Diocese of Salisbury to develop a monthly worshipping community called Flourish, similar to the previous Star Club initiative that was paused when Pete moved on to his new job. I’m also leading a church council subgroup looking at how we can help children and families – particularly those who aren’t already connected with the church. My passion is finding ways for schools and the church to work together for the good of the community.
TB: And you’re involved with services and day-to-day activities in the parish, too?
JR: Yes, I lead services across the parish, especially at Holy Trinity Bradpole, the nearest church to our house and a place where I feel very much at home. My background is evangelical, although I’ll happily work across the various traditions in the Church of England.
TB: Tell us a bit about your life before Bridport. How long have you been a priest?
JR: I was ordained in 2006, having studied part time for three years in Salisbury. I took on some responsibilities at a local church alongside my secular ‘day job’, but within a few years I realised I couldn’t carry that pace until my retirement. In 2010 I started applying for rector jobs and soon started working full time in the church, taking on a priest-in-charge role in Rowde and Bromham near Devizes, Wiltshire. One of the things I’m proudest of from that time is my work on building up links between schools, church and community, with initiatives including dramatised bible readings and monthly worship in schools.
In June 2016 I moved to the Canalside Benefice on the edge of Trowbridge, also in Wiltshire. I was the rector, responsible for four churches – we had some retired clergy and associate priests in the team, too – and I was also chaplain to the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance. Thinking at the time about how I’d been called to serve those parishes, I sensed huge potential in terms of re-engaging with the community, building up the lay teams and, of course, leading Christian distinctiveness work with the three CofE primary schools and their governors.
TB: What drew you to ordination?
JR: I’ve always been active in the church and I started to think about ordination back in the 1990s, when I was a churchwarden and led ministry with teenagers. My wife, Anne, and I have always had a shared sense of being called to ministry – in our previous benefice she set up a toddler group and a coffee group, and now here in Bradpole she’s a lay worship leader and involved with running the toddler group.
TB: And what about your life before becoming a priest?
JR: We lived in Highworth, near Swindon, and I worked in management for British Telecom for 25 years, initially leading the supply of cable to engineers and then developing new secure communications services for the Ministry of Defence, among other things enabling remote working for forces personnel.
There’s definitely a connection between that job, managing change and leading a team of security specialists, working with the military and other agencies, and a priest’s role in the church! Both involve dealing with diverse people with very different skills, communicating effectively, being entrusted with confidential information and working collaboratively. Change management in industry is great preparation for church life: learning to question gently whether the existing way of doing something really is the best way. I believe God gives us all unique talents to use for ourselves and for the good of the community; I want to help people grow in confidence when it comes to using those skills, and discover who God has called them to be.
TB: How did you end up here in Bridport?
JR: In 2021 I sensed that it would soon be time to move to a more part-time ministry. At the time we owned a house in Highworth and the tenants had given notice; we knew we didn’t want to move back there, so we decided to sell, and this triggered thoughts of retirement plans. We knew we wanted to stay in the Diocese of Salisbury, and also liked the idea of retiring near the sea. We’re caravanners and we’d enjoyed visiting Highlands End, and although we also considered the Purbecks, we had a strong sense of wanting a lively community in a market town. We came to look at Bridport: it really spoke to us, particularly the diversity of the CofE churches and the schools, and Anne saw Bradpole church on the parish website and suggested it would be a good fit for us. We found our house and that was that! At first I was still working full time in my previous benefice, and we’d come down here for days off and holidays, but I left that role in July 2023 and we made the big move.
TB: And do you have time for any hobbies…?
JR: My aim is to have an active ministry here but also to take time out so we can be away for a month or so sometimes. We love walking in the countryside and going away in our campervan. We regularly visit our sons and grandson in Wiltshire, where I’m still Air Ambulance Chaplain, and we’re planning to visit wider family in New Zealand later this year.