Parish Council
Our parish is blessed with a dedicated group of lay leaders who work closely with Fr. Ernest to support the mission and operations of our community. This model of lay leadership, envisioned by Bishop John, allows our laity to take an active role in the day-to-day running of the parish, freeing our priests to focus on the spiritual and pastoral care of their flock.
Parish Leadership Structure
Below is the current structure of our Parish Council and leadership team. This "family tree" illustrates how our various groups and ministries work together to serve our community.
Our Journey
From Amalgamation to Today
Parish Formally Constituted
The Parish of Saint Ambrose Barlow was formally constituted from the three former parishes of St. Mary, St. Charles, and St. Mark. Msgr. Paul Smith formed a Lay Leadership Team to support the transition and oversee the amalgamation of all processes into one unified parish.
New Leadership & Beginnings
After Fr. Paul's retirement, we joyfully welcomed our new Parish Priest, Fr. Ernest Attah. In the same year, the Sisters of Evron took up residence in St. Mark's Presbytery, and the difficult but necessary work of demolishing the St. Mary's church and presbytery was completed.
Parish Development & Renewal
Following the sale of St. Mary's land, the reserves generated enabled the parish to address a serious backlog of maintenance and repairs. This also allowed us to develop our de-carbonisation project, including installing solar panels on the parish hall to generate our own energy.
Parish Council Formed
Fr. Ernest proposed and formed a larger parish leadership team, including leaders from other groups. This new Parish Council operates on consensus, with full transparency on finance and property, fulfilling Bishop John's vision for the laity to take more responsibility in the day-to-day running of the parish.
A New Digital Home
Embracing Bishop John's call for missionary parishes, we've launched our new digital home. This website serves as a central hub for our community, offering resources, reflections, and new ways to connect with our parish family, extending our mission of faith online.
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