THE Parish of Stanhope is preparing to welcome a new Minister with the arrival in a few weeks of Revd Graeme Holdsworth.
Rev Graeme is currently the Interim Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite, in West Yorkshire, but his family ties are in this county with his parents originally from Shildon and Darlington. He is married to Carol, with a grown-up family and is, by profession, an analytical chemist! He has lived all over the country but grew up just outside London.
He was not even a Christian in his younger days but when he was around 30 years old, he and Carol, and young family went to church where he experienced the word of God – and their life changed. He became a regular churchgoer and was so enthusiastic about Christianity that in his early 40s, folk were suggesting he train for the church Ministry.
Rev Graeme said, “I never dreamed of being a Vicar, and couldn’t have imagined that I would have a vocation to support communities in their Christian faith. I had an enjoyable commercial career in Analytical Chemistry, IT and Genetic Screening – but surrendering to God’s call has been much more liberating than I could have imagined. I now enjoy helping people find that loving freedom which comes from knowing God better.”
He was living in Teesside when the call to priesthood came, so training at Cranmer Hall in Durham University was the obvious choice. He and his wife, Carol, were no strangers to advanced education with both attending university in Hull. Carol is also a scientist, as well as a qualified Reader (or Local Lay Minister). Graeme’s first posting was as a Curate on the outskirts of Hull and for the past six years he has been Interim Vicar in the Diocese of Leeds.
“I came to West Yorkshire to serve in a Benefice that was struggling with declining church attendance and falling finances, I was given three years to help these churches turn around and grow. The contract was extended for three more years because it was going so well: God was clearly at work in Marsden and Slaithwaite. Now, six years later, they are on firm foundations, growing and seeking a permanent Vicar. I will be sad to leave such lovely people, but my calling is to help communities that are struggling with change.” he said. His enthusiasm for his role shines through during his conversation with the Gazette. His humour is evident too and his excitement at the role he is about to take on here.
Rev Graeme is not a complete stranger to Weardale. He enjoys cycling, and loves long distance adventure riding, having cycled around Teesdale and Weardale in the past. Along with many other clergy who cycle, he likes to minimise his environmental footprint in the course of his ministry.
The post was advertised and gave a short synopsis of the recent history of incumbents – the popular Rev Susan Kent who sadly died in post in 2016 and then an interregnum until a new vicar was licensed in 2020 but who left after a short while through ill health. The Upper Weardale Benefice has not had a vicar in post since then but Rev Heather Ross works very hard around the Benefice and is greatly loved and respected.
The Benefice had seven parishes until the closure of Rookhope church (2014), Frosterley church (2019) and Westgate church (2024). Revd Graeme will be responsible for the four that are left: Heatherycleugh, St John’s Chapel, Eastgate and, of course, St Thomas, Stanhope. The Diocese have invested a lot of time and effort in the preparation for a new Minister and the new ways of working in the present-day – gathering people socially and spiritually together combining traditional church parish work with new and innovative approaches to mission and worship.
Rev Graeme’s post is initially for three years and is part funded on a project basis by the Diocese of Durham, this will be reviewed periodically. Rev Graeme’s role is to spend 50% of his time as the Priest-in-Charge of the Upper Weardale Benefice, 50% of his time on the Diocese-funded project to communicate the joys of Rural Ministry across the Diocese, and additionally help Rev Alec Harding as Assistant Area Dean. Graeme isn’t looking that far ahead at the moment though. He is just happy and excited to be appointed to a role in Weardale where he has (in his words) met lovely people, beautiful countryside, and gorgeous churches.
“I am very excited and eager to come to Weardale to work alongside Rev Heather Ross and to live in Frosterley, and returning to the northeast. I feel called to help the churches to grow in faith-filled confidence, and adapt to the significant cultural changes happening across the world; environmental, political, and economic. I love the church and want to help preserve the traditions we have, while finding locally unique ways of being church and communicating the good news to those who are sceptical about organised religion.”
Graeme is aware that the challenges the facing Upper Weardale may not be the same as he has successfully overcome in his present position in West Yorkshire. And, of course, less time to do it in. “I am thinking and praying; how to I enable and encourage our churches to flourish? How can my experience help the hardworking and faithful church that is here in Weardale?”
“I was appointed as Interim Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite in 2020 and in all our plans, no one expected the pandemic to have such an impact on everything. No one knows what the future holds, and we have some significant global trends that will reach deep into rural County Durham. I want to help our communities to learn that God is, and they are loved – even in the middle of hard times. What more beautiful place could I work out this ministry than Weardale?”
I asked Rev Graeme if he was just the shepherd that the church needs right now, and he said that he imagines Weardale has some very good shepherds (literal and spiritual) already. Perhaps think of him more as a priestly voice calling out about God in remote places, calling people back into a right relationship with God – and leading our churches to have a spiritual voice that may speak into the wider world.
If you are interested in learning more about Rev Graeme, there is a lot of information about him online. As well as cycling, he enjoys film photography, pilgrimage walking, juggling, and he writes a website about the way faith and his life are woven together.
The Acting Bishop of Durham is ‘delighted’ to announce Rev Graeme’s appointment as Interim Priest in charge of Upper Weardale as well as the Rural Ministry Lead for the Diocese of Durham. It is also acknowledged that these positions are ‘clearly challenging’, however, there are also huge opportunities for the mission of the church here. It is a wonderful place to live and work with wonderful Weardale folk ready to welcome Rev Graeme into the fold.
Rev Graeme will be licensed on February 17 at 6:30pm in St John The Baptist church, St John’s Chapel. All are welcome to attend.
Hopefully, the snow will stay away and we can give him a warm and wonderful Weardale welcome.
