Introducing our Minister, the Rev. Dawn Saunders
I am married to Nick and we have three daughters, Jenni, Ellie and Robyn.
My time exploring a call to full time Ministry became more serious than a vague inkling around 1999. After quite some time(!), in 2003 I began a more formal exploration of full time ministry at the Guy Chester Centre in Muswell Hill where I was based on a part time basis for two years. Whilst there I was studying for a BA in Theology and Religion at Oxford Brookes University and working through the local preacher’s Faith and Worship course. I was accepted for ministerial training in 2005 and studied for a further 2 years full time on a placement based course which also involved studying for an MA in Pastoral Theology.
Throughout my training I was fortunate enough to be able to continue my work as a chaplain at The Mount Prison in Bovingdon. I worked part time as part of a multi faith team of chaplains.
I was stationed in the Otley and Airebrough Circuit in 2007. I spent my first 2 years as a probationer completing further study and was ordained in July 2009 at Coventry Central Hall. It was a wonderful day, when I was supported by a number of people from the circuit alongside my family and friends.
Nick and I, with Ellie and Robyn moved from Leeds to The Mid Warwickshire Methodist Circuit in September 2012. Jenni, our oldest daughter, moved to Grimsby shortly before that to continue her studies at university.
We live in Kineton but my ministry involves 6 churches in the villages of: Kineton, Wellesbourne, Fenny Compton, Tysoe, Radway and Knightcote, as well as a chaplaincy role at MoD Kineton.
I play the flute and piano and I also love to watch cricket. Nick, Ellie and Robyn play so I watch anything from under 15 girls' cricket to international games on TV. A traditional annual family outing in Leeds became the Yorkshire v Lancashire T20 at Headingly. Perhaps now we shall have to give Warwickshire Bears v Worcestershire Royals T20 at Edgbaston a try. In my spare time I have been known to score, umpire, and make the occasional tea!!
We were all made very welcome indeed when we arrived and being a little closer to my Black Country roots means I personally feel really at home.
Dawn