Welcome Statement
A very warm welcome to all of you who are visiting our Parish Website. We truly hope that you will discover a faith filled, vibrant, diverse, inclusive and welcoming community here at St James’. As you navigate through the website, we hope you will find the information you need. We are a community of pilgrims who yearn to experience a sense of the Sacred Presence of God within our lives, through the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments, through our vibrant social life together, and through our commitment for pastorally supporting each other and those beyond in the larger community. We endorse and value the vision of Pope Francis for the wider Church and World.
Father David
Fr David was born on the Mediterranean island of Malta. He was ordained in 1992, having previously completed a BA degree in Philosophy and Human Sciences, a BA in Sacred Theology (BSTH) and Licentiateship in Pastoral Theology at the University of Malta. He also had the privilege of spending some months working as a deacon in Pakistan. After his ordination, he was assigned to work in Melbourne Australia where he was involved in Vocation Ministry, as Chaplain of a Sixth Form College. He left Australia in 2001 and moved to Ottawa Canada where he studied for his MA in Pastoral Counselling for two years. Fr David was subsequently assigned as a curate to St Anselm’s Parish in Dartford for 10 months and was then asked to take over the parish of St Benet’s Abbey Wood. He stayed there for five years, after which his ministry took him to the south west of the Diocese, ministering to the sick and dying at St Helier Hospital and St Raphael’s Hospice Cheam.
In 2014 he took a sabbatical, during which Fr David spent time returning to his roots in Malta for some months, but he also went to Rome. There he took a theological refresher course with other English speaking priests at the North American College. In April 2015, Fr David was asked by Archbishop Peter Smith to become the Parish Priest of St James the Great in Petts Wood.
St James’ Primary School
The church enjoys close links with St James’ Primary school. For further details, please see the school website www.stjamesprimarypettswood.co.uk.
St James’ Community Centre
Our Community Centre is actively used by parishioners and parish groups, and is also available for hire. Please contact the Parish Office for enquiries and bookings. Note that the Community Centre and play area used by St James’ Pre-School is absolutely restricted for their sole use during pre-school hours.
Welcome Booklet
For more detail on life in the parish of St James’, and the many and varied ministries and groups which parishioners can get involved with, please use the following link: St James’ Welcome Booklet.