New vicar hopes to bring in more younger members (From Basingstoke Gazette)

New vicar hopes to bring in more younger members

6:30pm Saturday 6th October 2012 in News By Helen Morton

A NEW vicar at a Basingstoke church hopes to increase her congregation and engage with younger members of the community.

The Reverend Alison Bennett, who has recently become a team vicar at Church of Christ the King, in Brighton Hill, is taking on the job having previously worked as a curate in Liphook for four years after being ordained in 2008.

She said: “I am excited about the role and the new challenge. It will take time to get to know the area and the people who live here, but there are lots of opportunities for me to get around in the community and see what’s happening.”

Rev Bennett will be working closely with local schools in the area, the various groups that use the church and also hopes to foster links with other organisations within the community.

She praised the team at the church, describing them as “very friendly and very happy”, adding: “I get the impression that they are people who do want to make a difference in their local community.”

Rev Bennett said she is keen to increase the congregation, which is currently about 40 strong, and she particularly wants to engage with children and young families in Brighton Hill.

She said: “I have had quite a lot of experience working with children and young families and I would like to engage with them. I would like to meet their needs while still meeting the needs of our current congregation.”

Prior to being ordained, Rev Bennett worked as a social worker in the Navy. She said the roles were different, but both “people-based”.

She was formally welcomed at her licensing service at the church last Thursday, where she was licensed by The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester.