Introducing our Rector
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Introducing our Rector The Revd Trevor Thurston-Smith SMMS
A native Trevor left full-time parochial ministry for a number of years and worked for Social Services in Derby and then as a project worker in a rehabilitation hostel for people with mental health problems. He was then seconded to a charity affiliated to 'Shelter' offering support to homeless people and working with local housing providers in developing specialist supported housing for people recovering from mental ill-health. He later worked for the Methodist charity MHA Care Group as a Regional Community Projects Manager, overseeing a number of schemes providing low-level support and befriending to isolated older people and developing specialist community based services for older people living with dementia. Whilst in Derby, Trevor also ministered on a voluntary basis to people living with HIV, and in 2005 he moved to Leicester to take up the post of Bishop’s Chaplain for people affected by HIV and Director of the Charity 'Faith in People with HIV'. Always needing a strong parish base to use as a ‘springboard’ for his ministry, it was at this time that Trevor began to worship at St Thomas’ South Wigston and became ‘Honorary Curate’ there for a number of years before returning to full-time parish work as Priest-in-Charge of Broughton Astley and Croft with Stoney Stanton. He became Rector of the newly-created Benefice of Wigston in June 2014. Originally evangelically converted, but a definite Anglo-Catholic at heart, Trevor now describes himself as a 'Charismatic Catholic' and values and respects all traditions within the Church of England. He has an interest in contemplative spirituality and is a member of the Sodality of Mary Mother of Priests (a dispersed community of priests living under a common rule) and a Priest Associate of the Holy House of Walsingham. He is an enthusiastic believer in the ministry of healing in its broadest sense. Trevor shares his life with his Civil Partner Jeremy and an American Bulldog-Collie cross called Nancy. He is a keen classical musician and plays the piano and organ. He loves choral music, but also believes that contemporary music has its place in worship. His other interests include foreign travel (especially the Greek islands), theatre, dog-walking and good food (especially Indian and Mexican). He is also partial to the odd glass of red wine or a pint of real ale! Happy to be known as Father Trevor or simply Trevor, on a good day you might just get away with calling him “Rev Trev” but do bear in mind that he’s been hearing that joke for over thirty years! |
of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Trevor worked as a Civil Servant for a number of years before training for ordination at Chichester Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1986, and priested in 1987, both at Sheffield Cathedral, and he served curacies at St Mary and St Nicolas, Rawmarsh, Rotherham and later at St John the Divine, Horninglow, Burton-on-Trent, in the Diocese of Lichfield.