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Simon and Pauline Holloway are the current residents of St.Wilfrid's Vicarage, being commissioned into the leadership team as Team Vicar in the Parish of Horley on Sunday 15th September 2002. They move to Horley after serving over 18 years at Christ Church, their last postion Sparkbrook, Birmingham.
Simon was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral in June 1981, while serving his first curacy in the Bushbury Team Ministry, Wolverhampton and then went onto serve in Castle Church, Stafford from 1981-1984. Particular ministries have included children's and schools' work, cross-cultural evangelism and worship leadership. Hobbies and interests include tennis, squash, photography, reading and holidays! Simon, after years of interest and active involvement in overseas and local mission, is also currently completing an MA in this field.
Pauline completed her nursing training in 1972 in Richmond and Kingston, before moving to Bath and then Bristol for midwifery and children's post-graduate studies. She has worked in the Practise Nursing and Family Planning fields in recent years. Particular ministries have included hospitality, craft and displays as well as Sunday School teaching and care for the elderly. Hobbies include gardening, sewing, and IT training.
They have two daughters at University. After completing their secondary education in Birmingham, Emma took a gap year in Latin America and is now studying Fine Art in Bath, while Esther took her gap year in Berlin and is now studying German and English at Oxford University.
As part of his reflections on God's work in and through him, Simon explains a little of his background and testimony :
"Each one of us is special and has a unique calling and purpose in God's overall plan, to build His church and extend His kingdom. There are many strands in the preparation and formation of a person whom God can use and every stage in life can be seen as a preparation and part of the overall plan of God for a life of faith.
In my own case, I can now see, on reflection, many such strands which God is weaving together to make this possible and sustainable.
My upbringing in Bristol within a loving and secure merchant family has provided a sense of security and identity at the start of life. I am thankful to God for such a background.
However, there was a missing dimension - the purpose and reason for life. In effect, the spiritual dimension was missing. Where do we come from; what are we doing here; how should we live and where are we going? Such questions invaded my life during my late teens and especially once at University. After pursuing many false trails, I found the answer in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the missing dynamic for living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, while at Sussex University. My life took a different direction from then on. Instead of heading for big business with BP with whom I had a student apprenticeship, I offered for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Sierra Leone, West Africa and while there was called to full-time Christian service. I returned to UK to study for the Church of England ministry at Trinity College Bristol and met my wife Pauline half-way through my studies there. We married at the end of my 2nd Year. Our two daughters Emma and Esther were born in Wolverhampton.
Two word pictures (or prophecies) were given to us at important stages of our ministry:
You will be like a BRIDGE, helping the people of God to be united in ministry and prayer together and also making a bridge into new cultures and areas.
You will be like a PLOUGH, breaking up the hard, resistant ground ready for the sowing of the seed of the Word of God.
By God's grace, we have sought to be obedient to this vision. It is a developing story and the kingdom advances, despite many setbacks and troubles along the way. To God be the glory!
And then the prompting came to apply for the post in Horley, which in many ways seems so different from our recent experience in Birmingham, in a multi-cultural and inner city parish. However, we are excited at how God leads and believe that He has a purpose in it all. We wait with expectancy and a little apprehension to see how God's plan will unfold. At one of our farewell services, one of the black church leaders prayed over us "It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" says the LORD (Zechariah 4:6). And so we come to Horley, looking to God for help by His Spirit for direction, wisdom, insight and His strength for all that lies ahead."
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