I was born in the West Midlands, northwest of Birmingham, and following a short period of moving around spent my late childhood in adolescence in Streetly. I studied Law at Birmingham University and then I initially trained as a solicitor working in the areas of matrimonial, criminal, and child protection law developing later into the law surrounding professional negligence and mediation.  

In my late 20s, following a return to church in search of a community of like-minded people, I asked the church to test my vacation to ordained ministry. Much to my surprise and chagrin, they said yes! 

Following three years training at Ripon College Cuddesdon near Oxford, I served in a parish in Lichfield followed by 10 years as a school chaplain before coming to Colwall in August 2008. My journey of faith is characterised by the belief that each and every individual is unique and loved by God, and that our job, both as individuals, and as the church together, is to recognise that divine spark within each other, and to live out our lives accordingly. 

Revd. Melanie Horton, Rector