The three churches of the Parish are central hubs of the local community. They are pleased to announce that, in consultation with the Patronage Board, the Bishop of Southwark has appointed the Revd Jonathan Haynes to be Team Rector of the parish of Mortlake with East Sheen, subject to the usual legal formalities.

The Patronage Board consisted of four parish representatives, a representative of Worcester Cathedral (the historic Patron of the parish), the Bishop of Kingston and the Archdeacon of Wandsworth. It met with, and interviewed candidates, on 23rd July. In consultation with the Patronage Board, the Bishop of Southwark, has supported the proposal that Jonathan, when he becomes Team Rector, remains as Vicar of Christ Church East Sheen rather than becomes Vicar of St Mary’s Mortlake.

For many years the Team Rector and, before the Team was established, the Vicar of the Parish was based at St Mary’s, but there is historic precedent for the Vicar being based at Christ Church. Enabling Jonathan to remain at Christ Church offers that Church some much needed continuity and consistency of ministry. For St Mary’s to have their own Vicar without the extra commitment and demands of being Team Rector could be a real opportunity for growth and development of new engagement in the part of the parish north of the railway.

Jonathan will be instituted as Team Rector on 4 November 2024. The process to appoint a Team Vicar to St Mary’s is to begin now with initial discussions.