Reverend Kevin Arkell

A New Vicar for Newport Minster and St Johns Church from 24th January 2011.

I very much look forward to joining you in January to serve as your new Vicar. When a new Vicar arrives everyone wonders what he is going to be like and so I will try and put together a few words about myself and my family that will introduce us.

My name is Kevin and I am married to Hilda. We have been married over 30years and Hilda is retiring as a teacher at Christmas but will join me in ministry as a Licensed Reader. She has been a Licensed Reader for many years and served alongside me in parish life. We have two children, Jennifer and Catherine. Jennifer has recently married Adam and lives near Romsey and is the Corporate Planning Manager for the University of Southampton. Catherine lives in Imola near Bologna in Italy. She is Deputy Director of a language school where she teaches English to children and adults – in schools and in factories. She is PCC secretary of The Church of The Holy Cross in Bologna.

I welcome my return to the diocese of Portsmouth because I was brought up in Havant and had my vocation nurtured at St Albans Church, West Leigh. As a young man I worked both in the National Westminster Bank and IBM and also as a part time youth worker. From there I entered the Church Army and went to work in Blackburn in the Muslim community and also qualified as a Social Worker. In Blackburn I met my wife Hilda, through mutual friends; she is a native of Sunderland. We moved from Blackburn to Ilkeston in the East Midlands where I served as a Youth Worker and a Community Centre Warden for the Diocese of Derby and then went to Theological College at Salisbury. After serving a short curacy in Somerset I was invited to become Vicar of Great Harwood in Lancashire and from there Team Rector of Darwen and Area Dean of Blackburn with Darwen. After many happy years in Lancashire we moved south by the invitation of the Bishop of Winchester and we have been delighted to be near to our family again.

We have always been conscious of God leading us as a family and knowing his presence taking us to new avenues of ministry beyond our wildest expectation. I am currently in charge of a suburban parish and also one in a red light area. I have been challenged into new ways of ministry and found a special calling in education and in working with those recovering from addiction. Throughout my ministry I have put a huge emphasis on my work with young people because it is the presence of Christ in the lives of the young that change lives, gives new opportunities of service and bring real hope to communities.

So how will I engage in the Isle of Wight? All I can tell you is that God will lead us together in a program of discovery, an acknowledgment that we are a team who work together for the Glory of God and that we are there to serve rather than to be served. I am conscious of the high profile of the church within the Island community and also within the County Council. I bring my academic background of Political Theology into this arena and look forward to meeting you all.

Your New Priest,

Reverend Kevin Arkell