Revd Matt Smith - New Vicar
Welcome!
Well this is my opportunity to welcome you, I’ve been in post here as Team Vicar now, for around a month and along with Lisa and our son Macaulay, we have been made terrifically welcome.
Many of you will have known me from my past life as a local plumber and are now getting used to me as your new vicar, I too have to get used to that change and as I said at my licensing here……..
“By the help of God I will”.
We’re so blessed here to have such a wonderful team of willing and equipped volunteers and staff, all of whom should feel encouraged, for they have prayerfully managed to enable this church to flourish during its interregnum, following on from the difficulties that Covid 19 bought with it, and so I now take hold of the batton, supported by these wonderful folk, as we continue together, not forgetting those who have gone to glory, to run this good race with ‘Jesus, the perfector and founder of our faith.’ by our side.
Coming up!
I wonder how many of you enjoyed that wonderful movie at Christmas ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ a story written by Charlie Mackesy, who describes his book & film as ‘a big hug’. Well, together we will be looking at some of the beautifully inspiring thoughts that come from this young boy’s adventure after meeting with these three incredible characters. We hope, over the course of 8 weeks, to allow God to ‘search our hearts’ as we seek him by picking up on some of the themes that this wonderful story raises.
As we embark upon this new journey in the life of Canford Parish Church, of ‘Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known’ to others, may we look forward together with hope.
Every Blessing,
Matt.
“We have such a long way to go “ sighed the boy,
“Yes, but look how far we’ve come” said the horse”
Week 1. Salvation and Freedom.
Week 2. A Cry for Help.
Week 3. You are Worthy.
Week 4. Kindness Cares.
Week 5. Do not fear.
Week 6. All Creation Sings.
Week 7. Hurt and Healing.
Week 8. Amazing Grace, Lost and Found. (Followed by lunch and afternoon together in the Rectory Garden.)
Staff Team
Churchwardens
Mr David Grant and Mrs Nicky Smart
Family Life Co-ordinator Mrs Sharon Cooksley 
Sharon is our Family Life Coordinator. She has been involved in children's work here at the Parish Church since 2004, although has worshipped within the parish since she was 10 years old. As her own family are grown (but not yet flown the nest!) she loves the opportunity to engage with families and children of all ages in both community and church settings. Sharon is married to Ken, and enjoys reading, gardening and good historical dramas.
Parish Church Secretary Mrs Carrie Partridge 
Carrie has been the Parish Secretary and the Rector’s Personal Assistant since 2015.
She also assists Rev Andrew Rowland as Rural Dean of the Wimborne Deanery. Carrie enjoys playing hockey with Wimborne Wayfarers and is a member of the Broadstone Community Band.
Additional Ministers
Canford is blessed with a very active team of retired ministers who also lead a number of the church's ministries
Revd. Dr Anne Gee OBE (Pastoral Care team)
Revd. Bev Probert (with June, Prayer Ministry co-ordinators)
Mr John Bentall (Pastoral Care and Ministry to the Deaf)
Mrs Angela Castleton (Spirituality co-ordinator)
Leadership team* and Sub-Committee
Leadership Team Chairman
Children & Families - Sharon Cooksley
Buildings and maintenance - Chris Heppenstall
Kingfisher 2 Project - Iain Stevenson*
Pastoral Care Co-ordinator - Vacency
Mission & Social Action - Karen Mounce*
Worship - Stephen Orman*
Social & outreach - Ellie Payne
Ministry - Vacency
Treasurer & Finance - Robin Christopher
Discipleship & Life Groups - Vacency
Other Leadership Team /Sub-Committee members
Parish Safeguarding Representative - Jane Hazell*
Breakfast@9 - Assistant Pastors - Pete and Jenny Triplow*
Associate Priest - Vacency
Health and Safety - Ken Cooksley
Other key contacts at Canford
Team Vicars
St. Barnabas (Bearwood) - Revd. Peter Myres
The Lantern (Merley) - Rev Mike Tufnell
All staff can be contacted through the Office
from 10am-12:00pm (Not Thurs)