What was your career before you were ordained? Did it have a bearing on your calling to be ordained? 

I was in adult education for most of my career and had a particular interest in developing progression routes into higher education for mature students. For the last 8 years I was a national advisor for post 16 learning.I think it does relate to my calling in that it is people centred work and I had the opportunity to work with people at times of change in their lives.I think in the last years when I was working on national programmes, I began to want to work more closely within a local community.

How did that decision to be ordained affect your life and family?

Well I started training for ordination when I got my pension. My family were supportive generally although my son said he had thought I would join a gym and get fit and have an easier life!It was a big undertaking and I can be a bit of a square peg but I was ordained deacon in June 2011. It was a wonderful moment in St Paul’s cathedral and Stephen was there to welcome me.

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When you arrived at St Thomas’s in 2012 as our assistant priest how different was it from your home church?

Oh, completely different from any church I had ever belonged to. I am from Belfast and the Church of Ireland I attended as a child when I was growing up was ‘on the ground’ compared with the high church worship at St Thomas’s. I don’t think there were any images. It was quite a shock to the system for both Stephen and me when the then bishop suggested it, but we had a shared commitment and when I began to know roughly where I should be standing at any given moment, I came to love the rich and varied liturgy at St Thomas’s and wouldn’t wish to have been trained anywhere else. Stephen and I shared a great interest in interfaith work.

What do you most enjoy about living and working around Finsbury Park? What differences have you seen in your time here?

I love the lively and mixed community here and being at the centre of the transport hub.People are friendly. And more so now than when I first came and there was a bit of extra sensitivity after the London bombings. I particularly value the interfaith activity with our brothers and sisters at Finsbury Park Mosque and the Muslim Welfare House and that has been a constant since I was ordained.

What other work have you been doing since leaving St Thomas’s after your curacy?

While I was in my first posting after St Thomas I got asked to go and help in a church where the vicar had retired suddenly on health grounds. I was there nearly a year before a new priest was appointed and the bishop said, ‘That went rather well. Would you like to do another?’ That’s how I began a series of postings during interregnums and I have enjoyed them all.They are long enough to get to know a community and I find that, as well as helping keep things going which is the main thing, something particular usually emerges that I can do and I think, maybe that’s why God brought me here.

You are our interim priest at the moment – how different is it from being the incumbent of a church?

It’s a lot different.There are areas that I can leave to others – like dealing with the money and buildings – and at my time of life that’s good.There is the challenge of working with people in a collegiate way and I like that. There is a bit of a wrench when the time comes to move on but that has always been the plan.I only work in walking distance so I have ongoing contacts that I value.

What do you enjoy doing on days off or on holiday?

I enjoy family time and walking. I did a stretch of the Camino last year and I would like to do more of that. And I enjoy reading and crosswords.

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Do you have a favourite Bible passage that helps your faith?

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Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

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And a light unto my path.

Psalm 119.105