Revd Ian Whitham, the new Priest-in-Charge at St Mark’s Church, Highcliffe, tells us about the experiences that have shaped his ministry so far and the hopes that drives him forward on his journey…
“I grew up in Bournemouth, where the foundations of my faith were laid through local churches, community life, and the ordinary patterns of family and work. My school years were not always straightforward, as I struggled with dyslexia and often felt overlooked. With time, prayer, and experience, I’ve come to recognise this not as a weakness but as a gift. It has shaped the way I think, preach and lead — creatively, pastorally, and with a sensitivity to those who feel on the edges.
“Before ordination, I spent many years working in the construction industry as a plasterer, both in a family business and later self-employed. Those years grounded me in the realities of working life and taught me the dignity of labour, teamwork, and perseverance. They continue to inform my priesthood, reminding me that the gospel must always connect with real life, real pressures, and real people.
“I trained at Oak Hill Theological College and was ordained in the Diocese of Winchester, serving my curacy at St Peter’s Yateley and St Mary’s Eversley. Since then, I have ministered in a range of settings — as Incumbent of All Saints West Ewell, Priest-in-Charge of Ellingham, Harbridge, Hyde and Ibsley, and Associate Minister with Incumbent Status in the Ringwood Benefice, working across six churches of varied traditions. These experiences have deepened my commitment to collaborative leadership, prayerful discernment, and mission shaped by context.
“Following redundancy in 2021 manly due to COVID, I took a deliberate year out of formal Christian ministry. During this time, I returned to full-time work in the construction industry, allowing space for rest, reflection and prayer. A year later, after conversations with the Bishop of Southampton, I was licensed to officiate in the Diocese of Winchester. Since then, I have supported churches across the diocese, including St Mary’s and St Peter’s in New Milton, during periods of interregnum. This season has been humbling and spiritually refining, reaffirming my sense of calling and deepening my reliance on God.
“As I look ahead, I feel a growing sense of hope and prayerful expectation about the possibility of serving as Priest-in-Charge at St Mark’s, Highcliffe. My desire is to serve faithfully, to listen attentively to God and His people, and to help the parish grow in unity, discipleship and confidence in the gospel.
“I would value prayer for wisdom, spiritual attentiveness and resilience, as I continue to discern God’s leading for St Mark’s, that it may flourish as it serves God, one another and the community in the years ahead.”
