This post will be informative for readers interested in the various strands of Christianity, religious education, Middle Eastern religion and politics, and the career to date of the new Vicar at St. Mary the Virgin.

The Revd Ayoob Adwar joined St Mary the Virgin Church, Mortlake High Street as Team Vicar in March 2025. His Licensing Service took place on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. He kindly consented to be interviewed for EastSheenMatters.

The Revd Ayoob was baptised and grew up in a Christian family, in the ancient Chaldean Church in Iraq. It is in full communion with the Catholic Church. He was ordained a deacon and priest in the Chaldean diocese of Alqosh in Nineveh in 2008. He joined the Chaldean Catholic monastic order of pontifical right. He trained for ministry in Babel College in Baghdad, which is affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He also studied at Al Mustansiriya University in Baghdad and he gained his bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology. Later he studied in Rome for five years to gain a master’s degree in Social Pedagogy at the Salesian Pontifical University.

In 2012 Rev Ayoob visited the UK to undertake a short period of study, improved his English, became interested in the Olympics and stayed with friends in Brighton. While there he visited the Parish Church of All Saints in Hove and was surprised to find a female Vicar, not an experience he had had before.

During that time the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) perpetrated genocide of Christians in 2014, especially around Nineveh. The Revd Ayoob then emigrated to Canada, staying with his Chaldean parents who had moved there earlier.

While there in 2017 and influenced by his positive experiences in Hove, his priesthood was recognised and he was welcomed into the Diocese of New Westminster and the Anglican Church of Canada.

In 2021 he joined Christ the Saviour Church in Ealing for a year. He then moved to be Curate in South Mimms, Ridge and Potters Bar for three years, where he was able to study to take on full responsibilities as an Anglican Vicar in the UK. He was so impressed by the ministry of Churches Together in Potters Bar, and he enjoyed working with the ecumenical team in the area.

The Parish should benefit from his international experience.

There will be a further posting in due course looking at how the Revd Ayoob sees his future in the Parish.