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The Meeting Place Interview: Simon & Louise
This is the first in a series of interviews with members of St Paul’s and All Saints churches. We will get to know our sisters and brothers who, like us, are on the journey with Christ. It will be about who they are, their history, their faith journey and personal beliefs. In this issue we talk to our present vicars, Simon and Louise Moore.
Since May 2010 Simon and Louise have shared the responsibility of leading our two churches. Louise was born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, the second of seven children (two adopted) whilst Simon was born in Kingswinford, Staffordshire, as the middle child of three.
Their first meeting in 1979 was in a North Mymms Scout Hut at a birthday party and was a classic case of "young-man-sees-young lady-and –falls-in-love-but-young-lady-does-not". However a slow growing relationship developed over a period of 5 years, 10 months and forty-four days (according to Simon‟s rough estimate!).
1985 was a pivotal year in their life together. They married – with Louise's father not only walking her up the aisle but also taking the service. Six weeks before their wedding day they had also gone to see Billy Graham – a life changing experience which brought Simon to faith and a sense of God's calling them both to ministry life.
Beginning their married life in Wolverhampton they waited for God to lead them and he soon sent them to Kenya as mission partners, working in school-teaching and medical rehabilitation. During this first spell in Africa their eldest daughter Hannah was born and after two and a half years they returned to England where they both studied at All Nations Bible College in Ware for two years.
The following years were largely joyful though marked by a great sorrow when their second child, Bethany, was stillborn. “This was a life changing experience that brought us closer to God than ever before” remembers Louise.
God once again called them to Africa and after the arrival of Ruth they decided to move to Zimbabwe where they spent five years working with the school, hospital and church. “Zimbabwe” says Simon, “taught us about real hospitality and we loved our time there”. After Miriam's birth in Harare Simon felt a call to ordained ministry, and after selection they moved to Nottingham where Simon trained at St John's college and Louise trained as a counsellor.
After ordination Simon was a curate in St Albans with Louise working as an occupational therapist in Sunshine Home, Northwood and in a hospice in St Albans.
From 2003-2010 Simon worked as the minister of an ecumenical church in Welwyn Garden City. Louise felt called to ordained ministry herself, and in 2006 started as a curate in Hatfield.
Everyday life with two congregations is busy. Simon's 'other job' involves running communication and preaching courses, whilst Louise works as chaplain in the Garden House Hospice and also does private counselling work. Time spent together is therefore of great importance to the couple; their weekly day off is Tuesday when they go on a regular lunch date at a local pub.
They both enjoy walking, but Simon is probably the more sporty of the two. “Yes, he likes to run and play golf”, explains Louise, “whilst I renew my batteries by praying and spending time in solitude or with close friends‟. Another great interest is reading and she mentions Joanna Trollope and Emily Bronte as her favourite authors.
In their time Simon has played the part of a body in a play, walked 100km in a day and has run 4 marathons. Louise dog walks (the Moore household includes various guinea-pigs and two characterful dogs, Jess and Stan) and paints the odd picture and describes herself as the more eccentric of the two. On balance Simon will make you laugh and Louise may make you cry (in a good way!), a double whammy.
Since arriving in Letchworth Simon and Louise have worked hard to formulate visions for St Paul's and All Saints respective futures – and Simon explains:
'St Paul's is to be the lighthouse for the community it serves. We want people in our parish to feel welcome and encouraged to join in our activities. Louise adds: 'All Saints will, after the redevelopment of the church, serve the village community and make the church the centre of village life'.
They both agree that the message we need to spread to the local community is about hearing the good news of God‟s unconditional love for us. As they put it: 'We have a great story to tell. We must live out and give out God's love'.
Interview by Peggy Forbes-Pepitone.
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