BISHOP Jonathan today announced two new appointments within our parishes covering the Meon Valley.

The Rev Jill Kingston (pictured above right), currently serving as curate in Leigh Park and Warren Park, and the Rev Liz Quinn (above left), currently curate in the Meon Valley parishes, will both become interim associate priests across the parishes of Swanmore, the Meon Bridge benefice, and Soberton, Hambledon and Newtown.

Each will also be given a ‘focal ministry’ – an area they will concentrate their ministry on. Jill’s will be in the Meon Bridge benefice, while Liz’s will be in Soberton, Newtown and Hambledon. Both will serve alongside interim priest-in-charge the Rev Andy Davis.

Among other things, both Jill and Liz will be involved with one of our diocese’s nine Pilot Cairns – the one that brings together clergy and lay leaders across the Meon Valley parishes to eat, pray and study together.

Jill had worked for 22 years with Hampshire Constabulary before sensing a call to ordination. She switched to a role as trainer for our diocese’s safeguarding team while doing theological training. Jill became a deacon in 2022 and was ordained priest in 2023.

She said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to serve God and his people in the Meon Valley Parishes. I am very much looking forward to getting out and meeting everyone in this wonderful part of the Diocese.”

Liz had been a secondary school teacher, teaching RE at Oaklands RC School in Waterlooville, and became a Reader and a spiritual director after joining the congregation in Hambledon. She trained on the Portsmouth Pathway, and spent time in Ghana before her ordination training.

She was then ordained alongside Jill at both of her ordination services – as deacon in 2022 and as priest in 2023.

She said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the Meon Valley Parishes, where I have been curate for 12 months, especially with Rev Jill Kingston with whom I have trained and who is a good friend.

“What a lovely time of the year with Spring springing to really start the work of rejuvenation in the Meon Valley Parishes, working in our Pilot Cairn to discern the missional plan for the parishes – I can’t wait.”

They will be licensed by Bishop Jonathan to their new roles at St Barnabas Church, Swanmore, on June 16.