Revd Canon Graham Archer, Director of Ministry at CPAS, has been seconded as Acting Archdeacon of Malmesbury.
Following Ven Christine Froudes retirement on 30 September 2018, Graham will provide ongoing support for parishes and clergy across the Malmesbury Archdeaconry until a substantive appointment is made. Graham knows the Diocese of Bristol well through his work at CPAS and will begin taking on responsibilities with immediate effect. He will move to Wiltshire for the period of the secondment but continue working with CPAS one day per week.
Bishop Viv and I are delighted that CPAS have agreed to Graham joining us for the next six months, said Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon.
He brings extensive experience of parochial ministry with its challenges and opportunities. Many of our clergy already know Graham from the work he has been doing with us through our programmes for ministerial development and in the new Mission Areas. He is very much looking forward to connecting more widely and deeply across the Malmesbury Archdeaconry and Diocese.
For me this is a fantastic opportunity to come and work alongside people I respect and help build a firm and faith filled foundation for the next phase of life in the diocese, said Graham. I look forward to taking up this exciting role and meeting the communities in the Malmesbury archdeaconry.
Graham has been Director of Ministry at CPAS since 2012. Having qualified as a biochemist, he worked for a missionary society in Japan before training for ordination at St John's Nottingham. He then served his curacy at St Matthew's Ipswich before planting churches in the Ipswich and Felixstowe areas for the next 14 years. He then moved on to become vicar of Highfield Church in Southampton for 13 years, before starting his role at CPAS.
Graham will work closely with Michael Johnson, Acting Archdeacon of Bristol. The Archdeacons PA is Rachel Stewart.
The Archdeacon of Malmesbury is currently being advertised.