Faith, family and calling: Lorna’s story

When Lorna Theophilus met a female priest who was also raising young children, something shifted. “It was the first time I’d seen somebody who was like me,” she said.

She was at a vocations day for women and hadn’t seen ministry that looked like it could fit into her life before. For Lorna, that moment helped her begin to imagine that ordained ministry might be a calling for someone with her gifts, family life and practical approach to faith.

Raised in Bream in the Forest of Dean, faith was a constant presence. “One of my earliest memories is sitting on a swing in my garden aged five or six, struck by the wonder of creation and the conviction that God had made it all,” Lorna said. “A few years later, at a holiday club, I made a personal commitment to follow Christ. Even going through difficult times, it was always undeniable to me that God was real and that he loved me.”

After studying History and English at Keele University, she built a career in housing and charity project management, working in affordable housing and later with what is now Young Lives vs Cancer. She got married to her husband, Sam, and they had three children: 14-year-old twins Eleanor and Rosie, and 11-year-old Oliver. Alongside her professional life, she was heavily involved in volunteering, serving as a school governor, helping at a community pre-school and supporting the life of her local church.

“I’ve always wanted to do something that was helping others,” she said. “In my career and through all my jobs, I knew I wanted to help people. I think that’s very strongly linked to my Christian faith.”

She helped on a 10 year project to build a new church centre in Bream which became a significant part of her life. Around the same time, she was also leading a house group for young families, bringing together parents with young children for fellowship and support.

Lorna said: “At the time, neither experience felt like preparation for ministry. I never thought of myself in a leadership position at all. I just wanted to meet with other Christians. However, when I look back, I do think that it was God preparing me for leadership, or maybe getting me used to the idea.”

Working as Church Buildings Support Officer in the Diocese of Hereford also helped her to understand the broad range of people called to be priests.

“I was supporting churches with building projects, which brought me into contact with clergy and congregations from a wide range of traditions and backgrounds. I met loads of different people who were called to the priesthood, and they were all very different,” she said. “It was really helpful to see myself as a priest. I also discovered that I’m quite good at encouraging people who are struggling and finding the next thing to do, and I started to spot things in myself that might be useful in ministry.”

Throughout her discernment and training, she says the support of her family has been invaluable.

“My husband has been so supportive of me in this journey,” she said. “When I have struggled, he’s told me, ‘Of course this is what you should be doing. This is so obviously what you should be doing.'”

Lorna is now looking forward to her new placement.

“I’m very curious about people,” she said. “I’m keen to get to know the churches and the communities they’re in. I’m really excited about sharing in baptisms, weddings and funerals, and becoming involved in the ministry side of local schools. I’m looking forward to being ordained, being commissioned for what God is calling me to do.”

Lorna will serve her curacy in Highnam, Tibberton with Rudford and Taynton Benefice, along with the parish of Minsterworth.