A vicar, who joined the church at sixteen after being inspired by a teacher at his school, has done his last service at a Bermondsey-based church.
Canon Gary Jenkins grew up on a council estate in Battersea in a non-religious household. After not coming from a religious background, it was conversations with a teacher that inspired him to join the church.
“My Christian biology teacher was talking to me about his faith and that was a big turning point for me,” Gary said.
“I didn’t come from a church-going family so it was one of those unexpected moments in life.”
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He said the night he became a Christian “was like entering another world – my wardrobe into Narnia.”
Gary joined the church aged sixteen, but he didn’t start working within it until later. “To begin with I was a science teacher at a boys school in Tooting,” he explained.
“Then I went to theological college and now I’ve been ordained for 33 years.”
He’s worked in various different churches in South London, which he said is where his heart is.
Last Sunday (December 3) he did his final service after ten years as Vicar of St James and St Anne churches in Bermondsey.
During his time as a vicar in Bermondsey, he’s seen lots of changes, and said that although the pandemic affected the church, in some ways it had a silver lining.
“The pandemic had a big impact on the church,” he explained.
“We had to adapt the way we do things, and the good thing that’s come out of that is that we’ve made additional connections with people.
“So now we have an online congregation as well as an in-person one as well.”
Gary is passionate about helping communities feel more connected to the church, especially those on council estates, growing up on one himself.
He said this what his new role will focus on.
“My new job is about working all across South London encouraging the churches work on council estates.
“The risk is always that people on estates get neglected. So I think it’s really important that they’re not neglected by bringing the church to them.
“In the new role, I want to encourage parishes where there are estates to connect with the people there.”
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He and wife Ruth are moving further south to Croydon, where he will take up his new post as Dean of Estates Ministry in January. There he will develop the work of the church on all the estates in the Church of England Diocese of Southwark.
He is remaining as Chair of Governors at St James Primary School until his successor takes up their post, which it is hoped will be during 2023.
His final service was attended by a large congregation – including former and present North Bermondsey councillors, Eliza Mann, Anood Al-Samerai, Rachel Bentley and Emily Tester; the Archdeacon of Southwark and other local clergy past and present.
Gary said the send-off was ‘lovely.’
“There were lots of tears. They gave us a really good send-off.
“The church bells rang for us all afternoon which was very special,” he added.
“I love Bermondsey. It’s got such a distinct character and I love the people – they’ve always been so welcoming.
“The congregation in Bermondsey will always be in our hearts and we’ll look back on our time here with great thanksgiving.”
Christmas and all other services will continue as usual at the churches, led by the other members of the leadership team.
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