BISHOP Jonathan has appointed the Rev Amanda Sim as the new priest-in-charge of St Matthew’s, Blackmoor and Whitehill, north of Petersfield.

Amanda is currently curate at St Peter’s, Petersfield, and St Mary’s, Buriton, but 10 years ago hadn’t even been baptised or confirmed. She had come from an agnostic family and only felt the first inkling of God in our cathedral on Good Friday 2013.

She had started coming to church because her son Christian joined the cathedral choir, and was amazed at how beautiful the worship was. She and Christian were baptised and confirmed together in 2015.

Amanda felt called to ordination, studied on our in-house Portsmouth Pathway course, and was ordained in 2022. She became a curate and the final stage of her training – working in Petersfield and Buriton – began last August. Now she’s heading north for a new challenge.

“It’s amazing to look back on these past nine years of walking with God,” she said. “It only seems like yesterday that I first felt that inkling that my path was about to take a different turn. I had my first encounter with Christ sitting in one of the cathedral pews on Good Friday, listening to David Price’s setting of the sung liturgy. This truly has been a remarkable journey.

“I am always encouraging people to listen out for God’s SatNav as it often takes you to places quite unexpected. Because I was already in Petersfield deanery, I became aware of the vacancy in Blackmoor and Whitehill, and went to the licensing of the Rev Kate Lloyd Jones as associate priest at St Matthew’s. Afterwards, that feeling of God’s guiding arm just didn’t go away – he’s very persuasive!

“One thing I am most looking forward to is being a part of the life of St Matthew’s C of E Primary School in Blackmoor. Recently I had a lovely morning with them where the year six ambassadors asked me some fantastic questions. My husband Mark and I are really looking forward to moving to the parish where we can become part of the community and walk with the parishioners on their own journeys.”

Amanda will join the Rev Kate Lloyd Jones, who was appointed as associate priest for Blackmoor and Whitehill recently. Bishop Jonathan will license Amanda on June 10.

You can read more about Amanda’s faith journey here.