Current Clergy

Current Clergy

The Parish Priest is Father John Hine

Fr John was born in 1938 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and ordained priest in 1962 in Rome.

Fr John has served over 55 years of ministry in Southwark Diocese (first serving as assistant priest in Worcester Park, Maidstone, Chatham, with normal parish responsibilities, hospital chaplaincies, plus involved in Secondary School chaplaincy, Diocesan R.E Inspection, Chaplain to Chatham Naval Base). He was then appointed to found new parish in Bearsted and Harrietsham, 1978 (and also appointed Secretary, then Chairman, of Kent Catholic Education Commission). He built St Peter’s Church, Bearsted.

In 1968, he was appointed Chancellor and Vicar General of Diocese, resident at Archbishop’s House, Southwark and consecrated Bishop (Kent Area) in February 2001 until 2014 when he reached retirement age.

Fr John was appointed Parish Priest (‘Emeritus Bishop’) of  St Andrew’s, Tenterden in 2014.

The Parish Deacon is Reverend Jolyon Vickers

After a short flurry with Hotel Management, Jolyon worked in the National Health Service in a number of roles for 40 years.

He has a particular responsibility for the housebound and residential nursing homes. He also is experienced at planning funeral rites and happy to help people in any pre-need situations.

He also has a role as the RC Ecumenical Officer for Kent and is an active member of the Archdiocese of Southwark’s Unity Commission.

He has been married to Suzanne for nearly 40 years.