New curate starting to feel at home

A new curate has started work serving in Newark and Coddington after being ordained at Southwell Minster.

The Rev Chris Lee grew up in the Midlands where his father is a vicar.

He did a maths degree before training as a primary school teacher and then taught for a couple of years in Kent before becoming a children’s worker at St Michael le Belfrey, York.

Mr Lee met his wife, Ruth, at a Christian festival in Skegness while on the children’s work team and they married in 2011.

Mrs Lee works with primary schools leading outdoor education, which includes making shelters, lighting fires and learning to navigate.

The couple moved to Durham in 2014 so Chris could begin training at Cranmer Hall.

He said he had thoroughly enjoyed being a student again, studying the Bible with some excellent teachers and good friends.

Mr and Mrs Lee both love the outdoors, particularly mountains and beaches and enjoy playing the fast-paced sport ultimate frisbee.

“We are both starting to feel settled in Newark and feel really welcomed by the people of the local churches,” Mr Lee said.

He will be working under the supervision of the priest-in-charge of Newark, the Rev David Pickersgill.