Bishop Martyn is delighted to announce the appointment of Revd Alan Humphrey and Lesley Humphrey to join the staff team of the Community of the Tree of Life as Warden and House Manager.
The community, which hopes to welcome the first group of novices in January 2019, will be a house of prayer for the whole of the Diocese of Leicester. You can read more about it by clicking here.
Since being ordained in 2010 Alan has been Curate and subsequently incumbent at St Andrew’s, Leicester Forest East, but he and Lesley have been deeply involved in the life and mission of that church since 2004.
As Warden, Alan will be overseeing operations for the Community and the church partnership scheme that will see the novices engaging in prayer and mission with churches across the diocese.
Lesley will be organising the day-to-day domestic life in the Community House looking after the cooking, menus, chores, laundry and hospitality: a task that she relishes!
Alan and Lesley reflect: “We thought we were heading towards a quiet retirement as we sensed God calling us to spend more time with Him; but following much prayer and discernment we were thrilled to accept the invitation to help lead the new Community of the Tree of Life.
“We knew where our strength would come from as we read the words of Jesus, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Revd Rachel Bennetts, the Prior of the Community said: “I’m thrilled that Alan and Lesley have so generously offered themselves to live with the Community and support our life in this way. They bring a wealth of life experience, warm pastoral hearts and a passion for prayer; their presence will be a great asset to our novices and all who visit the Community.”
Alan and Lesley joined the staff team in April and are assisting the Prior as well as Project Manager, Andrew Nutter, with preparations for the opening of the Community House, planned for the end of the year.