AFTER a challenging few years without a rector, Winnersh Parish has warmly welcomed its new vicar, The Reverend Patrick Mukholi.
Parish Administrator Samantha Robson-Hurst said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Patrick has joined us.
“We relied on local priests and a team of volunteers to keep our two churches going for more than three years.
“The diocese couldn’t see a future for us and we were at risk of losing St Catherine’s Church, which would have been devastating.”
Now, thanks to the extreme generosity of an anonymous donor or donors, the parish can now hire a new full-time vicar.
Born educated and ordained in Kenya, Patrick is married to Helen, with one grown-up son, Jonathan.
He worked in the Diocese of Mombasa Kenya, before coming to the United Kingdom to study in Glasgow at the University of Aberdeen.
In the borough, he has served as Associate Priest and Interim Minister at Winkfield, Cranbourne and Chavey Down Parish, Bracknell, and before then, as Associate Priest at St Paul’s Parish, Wokingham.
Now he is is settling into his new role as priest in charge of St Catherine, Bearwood and St Mary the Virgin, Winnersh, which together make up the Parish of Winnersh and Sindlesham.
Patrick was licensed at St Catherine’s Church earlier this year.
He said: “I am grateful for the privilege and opportunity to work with and serve the communities and Parish and of Winnersh as the Priest in charge.
“I pray and hope that together, with God’s help, we will be able to move the Parish forward after a long period without a minister. “I am hopeful that those who may have drifted away will return, and I look forward to working together for a flourishing people and Parish.
“We will see how best the Hong Kong and Winnersh communities can best serve each other in God’s mission.”
St Catherine’s Choir member and historian Roberta Tweedy, said: “We’re grateful to all the priests who helped us out during the interregnum, and to Alan Hall who rang them all each week to see if they were available,” she said.
“Thanks to the amazing generosity of our recent anonymous donation, we can now pay a parish priest for four years.”
St Catherine’s Church was built by the Walter family, whose John Walter started The Times newspaper in 1785.
His son John Walter the second inherited the publication, and when his daughter Catherine died in 1844 he built St Catherine’s Church in her memory two years later.
St. Mary The Virgin church is much younger.
Constructed in the style of Roman Catholic churches of the period, it was built in 1965 to serve the then new housing development of Winnersh.
“We are all more than delighted that Patrick has joined us,” Roberta said.
“He’s enthusiastic and welcoming, and every time we see him he has a new idea.
“He’s a man of the people who wants to meet everyone – he’d visit every house in Winnersh if he could.
“H asks questions, he loves people, and he’s funny.
“He’s completely renewed our enthusiasm.”
As well as weekly Sunday services at St Catherine’s at 11am, and at St Mary’s at 9am, short prayer services take place midweek, with Open Church at St Catherine’s each Thursday from 10am until noon a chance to meet and get to know people over coffee and biscuits.
With Patrick now at the helm, the parish is keen to grow, and would love to encourage volunteers to help keep the churchyard clean and tidy.
For information, visit: winnershparish.org
