Meet The Team
Who are the people who make it happen? Read about them here. Meet team members past and present.
Jon Cornwall
Retreat Manager
Meet Jon
What an interesting year this is going to be! I feel like I’m going to spend this year apologising for spending last year telling everybody that I was leaving Canvey to get married. I am sorry if I got your hopes up, in the end I was asked if I could become the Retreat Manager for Walsingham House, a job which I have always hoped for, and don’t worry I did still get married. I now live with my wife Sara-Jane in the flat at Walsingham House. This has also allowed me to discover my latent DIY skills, so don’t start a conversation with me about tiling or grouting as it may never end.
This year it feels like all of my dreams have come true at once. I am happily newly-married, I finished and passed my Master’s degree in Theology and the same day I was offered a spot studying for a PhD in the same. I was able to stay working at Walsingham House and even given the responsibility to lead and shape the team and programme of events at the house.
I am ecstatic with the quality of the current Walsingham House volunteer team who have all come from within the Diocese. They understand that they are “standing on the shoulders” of past team members and I couldn’t be more pleased with Michael and Brenden’s decisions to stay for another year as programme leaders. I pray that together we may maintain and develop this House to best serve the young people of this diocese.
It is difficult to write a personal statement without sounding boastful, but, equally I want to assure you that this house, which so many people care so deeply about, is in safe hands. I have been told by people that I am a good all-round youth minister and can turn my hand to prayer, meditation and unpacking scripture, as well as being a capable dramatist, artist and musician. In addition to this I have been told by a close friend that I have “a brain which is very different to other people”. I believe that what they meant was that I have a creative way of thinking and am able to express complex scripture in an easily understandable way, or perhaps they just don’t like me that much. After three years with the responsibility as Assistant Director for the House I am very familiar with the challenges of community living and the importance of encouraging and supporting team-members in their role within Christ’s Body.
I pray that this year which began with our Holy Father coming to England may be one filled with joy in the Spirit and that we may be able to share in this great enthusiasm for living full Christian lives. If you are still reading this, thank you for the care with which you clearly have for both the House and the Team. Please keep us and the young people of this diocese in your prayers as we live out our ministry this year.