Hello, I’m Ray. I am currently training for ordained ministry as an ordinand at Cranmer Hall Theological College. I live in Durham with my wife, Kelly. Originally from Newcastle, I moved from Cramlington, Northumberland, to Durham to undertake full-time, residential training.
Settling into Durham has been a pleasure; it’s a beautiful city, and I’m eager to explore both it and the surrounding areas as I make it my home. Prior to beginning my training, I spent four years working as a verger at Newcastle Cathedral. I also undertook a six-month Sunday placement in Morpeth, Northumberland, whilst preparing for the ordination training interview process. Since then, I have completed several placements, including at Windy Nook and Stockton Parish Church, and I am now coming to the end of my first year at Cranmer Hall. I will be entering my final year of training in September.
In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music and expanding my ever-growing vinyl collection. I have also recently started learning to paint with acrylics, although I am very much at the beginning of this very long learning curve and haven’t produced any masterpieces thus far.
I thoroughly enjoy learning from others and walking alongside people in their journeys. I am especially looking forward to exploring rural ministry because it offers a distinctive opportunity to understand how faith, community, place, and everyday life are woven together. I am keen to learn from the wisdom, resilience, and generosity of rural churches and communities, and to discover more about the joys and challenges of ministry in settings where relationships are often deeply rooted and where the church can play a vital role in the life of the wider community.
As I continue to grow and learn in preparation for ordained ministry, I hope this experience will help me listen well, serve faithfully, and better understand the many different contexts in which God’s people live, worship, and witness. I look forward to sharing in worship, conversation, and community life, and to learning with and from those I meet along the way. So, if you see me around, please do come and say “hi”; I very much look forward to meeting you.
Prayers and Best Wishes
Ray Hetherington