Rambling Rector

From  our Associate priest Juliette Hulme.

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I first came to West Dorset on the day of the October hurricane of 1987. I was being interviewed to teach English and Drama at Beaminster School. Thankfully I survived the storm and got the job and fell in love with West Dorset. I bought a terraced cottage in Shatcombe, Uploders where I have retired to 36 years later. In between these years the direction of my life often took me by surprise! Life does not always turn out as expected.

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I have worked with the Iona Community on Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland where the Christian Gospel first arrived in this land. Whilst there I sensed God’s call to me to go into ministry and trained as a deacon in the C of E. I studied at Cranmer Hall, in the city of Durham which I loved. In 1992 the vote for women priests went through General Synod (the C of E’s parliament) and so it was such a joy to be priested in 1995.  I served my curacy at St Paulinus Church in Crayford, Kent and realised my experience in teaching drama was still valuable – directing a Passion Play involving all the churches in Crayford. 

Following Crayford, I became Assistant Priest in Leatherhead before sensing a new and unexpected call into the Army as a Padre. At this time there were no women chaplains in the Regular Army so I was a first. The training was tough, including long marches, physical fitness endurance tests and learning to march even with blistered feet.  But I survived. When the  Iraq conflict broke out in March 2003  I was sent to Gütersloh to be with the Royal Artillery & Royal Logistics Brigade to cover for their chaplains now in Iraq and then I was sent to Basrah Field Hospital in Iraq as chaplain.  It was a great privilege to give pastoral and spiritual care to wounded members of our Armed Forces in such challenging circumstances. I learnt so much from the soldiers I served. As they say there are few people who do not believe in God on the battlefield. 

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After serving in the Army, I returned to England and my cottage in Uploders where I met Nerissa (Canon Nerissa Jones) who was then vicar. Nerissa and her husband David became my friends and Nerissa a wonderful guide and mentor for me, as I know she was to so many.  I became Chaplain to Wells Cathedral School in Somerset for 12 enjoyable years working with all ages 4-18 years. Then in 2018 I took up the post as Team Vicar in the Nadder Valley in Wiltshire, living in Tisbury. This was very rewarding. As well as caring for five different churches and communities, I also cared for two cats, several bantams and a huge garden which I loved. I retired in Oct 2024 after 30 years of full- time ministry in the Church and 10 years in teaching. 

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It is lovely to be living much of my time back in this beautiful part of Dorset. I am glad to be able to take some services in this benefice and help Chris, our vicar and St Swithun’s Bridport. I have joined Loders Church Choir and Loders WI, and have felt so welcomed.

The 2nd February is Candlemas when the church celebrates when the infant Jesus was presented in the temple to Simeon. Simeon is an elderly man and has been promised by God he would see the Messiah before he dies. He holds this small baby in his hands and recognises that in this child he is seeing the love and fulfilment of all God has promised.  

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As I look back on my life I can see how God has guided me through many challenges, hopes and fears. If I had sat down and tried to plan my life, it would never have seemed possible. Like Simeon I have learnt to try and trust in God and I am still learning. It’s often easy to see only the anxieties of getting older. But like Simeon, I too have seen the love of God:  seen Christ’s love in the wonderful children I have taught with their inspiration and talents; seen Christ in the courage of soldiers on the front line in Iraq;  seen Christ in the many parishioners and members of the community who turn up and care for their neighbours and churches with such dedication and love; and I have seen Christ in the beauty of West Dorset with its wonderful sunsets, overlapping  hills and the rugged cliffs and restless sea. It is wonderful to return here in my retirement and to be able to continue in a small way to be part of this community as I continue to trust in God and the peace that he brings. 

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Juliette Hulme

Associate Priest

 

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