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The Rev Lizzie Shipp

It is an immense privilege, and it is very exciting, to be appointed as your new parish priest! I was born in West Norfolk, where my father had a farm in Castle Rising and was schooled in the area before heading to the University of Leicester to read Business Economics, graduating in 2002. Confirmed at the age of 18, I felt God’s call on my life in a more definite way, which I explored whilst working as a trainee Social Worker and latterly as a trainee Chartered Accountant. In 2004 I began training for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon, near Oxford, graduating with degrees in Theology and also Ministry. I served my curacy at Wymondham Abbey, just south of Norwich, which is a historic former Benedictine abbey, notable for its two towers, which you can see from the A11. In 2011, I was appointed as Chaplain to the Bishop of Worcester and in 2012 was made a Minor Canon of Worcester Cathedral, with the variety and opportunities for service which each role brings being immensely enjoyable, and equally an enormous privilege. I am currently completing a PhD in Sixteenth Century Church History, studying distance part-time with Durham University. I met my husband Tom soon after I moved to Worcester, and we were married in Worcester Cathedral by the Bishop in October last year. Tom was born in Lancaster, where his family still live. We share a mutual love of the classics, history, literature, music and travel, as well as both being keen gardeners, and have two dogs, Audrey and Dottie, both of whom are looking forward to new walks immensely. We are both keen runners and sports persons – I have run a number of marathons and have played cricket for both the Dioceses of Norwich and Worcester, and Tom enjoys cross-country running and cycling. Tom will be starting a new job as Head of Classics at King’s College School, Cambridge in September, and is already familiar with the area, having studied Classics at Emanuel College, Cambridge, where he gained his PhD in 2006, before teaching Classics at Tonbridge School, and latterly at Monmouth School, where he is currently Head of Department.

Please pray for us, as we pray for you and for all that lies ahead as we seek to discern God’s will and ask for His blessing upon the people and parishes of Melbourn and Meldreth in this new chapter of our lives together.