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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 22 March 2021. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
The Revd Dr Leonard Onugha appointed new rector for the Parish of Finchampstead & California.
Leonard, his wife Joanna, and their three teenage children will be moving to Finchampstead as soon as they are able, with a proposed start date of the end of July 2021 to tie in with St James' Day. Speaking of his appointment, Leonard says,
"I am excited by the opportunity to reach out into the community in engaging ways as we regather following the difficulties of the last year. I would be especially pleased for us to be well placed to embrace the new families that are moving into the parish."
"I would also hope that we do this whilst maintaining what we represent as an open and welcoming community."
The Parish of Finchampstead and California was created in 2011 when the parishes of St James' Finchampstead and St Mary and St John California were united. In 2015, the parish was asked to take responsibility for the former garrison church at Arborfield Green.
They now form a single united parish of three churches who have a strong focus on youth and family, working in schools and engaging with the wider community through regular festivals, family and community events and pastoral care.
Leonard is currently a curate licensed to the Thatcham Benefice but is serving as an associate minister in Emmer Green, Reading. Leonard was deaconed in 2018 and priested in 2019. Unlike most curates who spend on average three years in a curacy post, Leonard was asked to become an associate minister at St Barnabas in Emmer Green to help support the team there.
Leonard says that knowing Christ and learning to walk with him has been an adventure - being arrested for holding a prayer meeting in one country and serving as a teaching pastor with a church in South East Asia are just some of the journeys his faith has taken him on. Much of his earlier work within ministry was done whilst he held a role with a large oil company, who, towards the end of his decade-long career with them, allowed him to take a sabbatical to explore his faith. It was during this time that he met a charismatic vicar, Vernon, who invited Leonard to 'come and see' what he and his team did.
Leonard didn't hesitate and joined the staff team at Vernon's church and, as he says, has never looked back. Although Leonard is well used to working across different church traditions, from Evangelical to Anglo Catholic, and locations from urban to rural, Leonard says,
"Being part of the variety of worship styles within the parish, including my favourite evensong with the choir, is an experience I am very much looking forward to."
"The rhythm of parish life and ministry is one that I have really enjoyed during my time in Thatcham and continue to enjoy in Emmer Green. I find the parallel with the agricultural year a beautiful pattern for ministry and discipleship, as well as prayer."
It is Leonard's hope that as well as making sure the parish's successful, traditional outreach continues, he and his team use the learnings taken from the pandemic, especially those of digital worship, to enhance and maintain a Godly interest across different worshipping platforms to help refresh the parish.
He also hopes to build on the hugely successful new expression of church that has been planted within the parish at St Eligius's Church, a converted garrison church that has capacity for 150 worshippers, office space, kitchen and toilets.
It is hoped that, with the financial support from a Common Vision grant of £50,000 and the leadership of Leonard and his team, St Eligius will be transformed into a Space2be hub for support, networking, meeting friends and developing a community identify for residents of the almost entirely new housing estate surrounding the church.
Concluding, Leonard says,
"I feel privileged to be joining such an able ministry team, and to work with our dedicated team of volunteers. I look forward to meeting the community and to our new journeys with Jesus."
Learn more about the parish and Leonard's work on the PFC website.