Ecclesfield church welcomes new vicar

L to r:- Rev Dr Tim Gill, daughter Emily, wife Mandy, son Kadan and son Thomas.

Reverend Dr. Tim Gill has been installed as vicar at St Mary’s Church more than a year after the previous vicar, Rev Daniel Hartley left in April 2015 to take over a benefice in Devon.

He is due to be installed in his new role at a ceremony in the church on Thursday, July 28, which will be attended by the Bishop of Doncaster Rt Rev Peter Burrows and Rev Alan Isaacson, the area dean for Ecclesfield.

The congregation is also set to include Dr Julie MacDonald, the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Denise Fox, Angela Smith MP, councillor Kathleen Granger, chair of Ecclesfield Parish Council, Sir William Jeffcock and a coach of visitors from Tim’s previous parish in Roby, Liverpool.

In a message to the congregation, Rev Gill said he is “born and bred in Yorkshire” and “very excited about moving to Ecclesfield and looking forward getting to know you all.

“Apart from being a vicar for nearly 25 years, I have a passion for music, I love going to rock concerts with the children.

“I also love science fiction and walking. I believe that God has called me to St Mary’s. I don’t come with a plan for the parish but with a commitment to work with you in seeking God’s vision.

“I do believe that there is a real opportunity to grow the church community through encouraging wedding couples, parents of children being baptised and families who have used the church for funerals to become involved.”

Rev Gill is originally from near Whitby in North Yorkshire and was vicar of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Roby, Liverpool, since 2008.

He previously served his curacy in Hull in the 1990s, and was priest in charge in Hull and incumbent in York and Leeds prior to his move to Liverpool.

He studied theology at Westcott House in Cambridge, and has a degree from Newcastle University, a postgraduate research degree from Jesus College in Cambridge and a Ph.D. from Leeds University.

Joining him at the parish will be his wife Mandy, an audiologist at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital, and their children Thomas, Emily and Kadan.

He takes over a busy parish, in which around 100 people attend the main service on Sundays. There are also around 40 weddings conducted at the church each year, along with 32 baptisms and 36 funerals.

It is believed there has been church buildings stood on the site of the current church, which is a Grade I listed building, for 1500 years. The first services under the new vicar take place on Sunday at 10am and 6.30pm.