Simon David Heathfield (born 1967) is a British Anglican priest who served as Archdeacon of Aston in the Church of England.[1]
Early life and education
Heathfield was born in 1967.[2] He was brought up in London and the South East of England.[1] He studied music at the University of Birmingham, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree in 1988.[1][3]
After a number of varied jobs, including as a Royal Air Force officer, an insurance manager and an auxiliary nurse, Heathfield began working as a Church and Community Youth Worker.[1] He then felt the call to ordination and entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Open Evangelical Anglican theological college, in 1996.[3] He spent the next three years studying theology, completing a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and training for ordained ministry.[2][3]
Ordained ministry
Heathfield was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1999 and as a priest in 2000.[3] From 1999 to 2002, he served his curacy at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Heswall in the Diocese of Chester.[2][3] Then, from 2002 to 2005, he worked with the Church Pastoral Aid Society as its Vocation and Ministry Advisor;[2] this was a national role with the aim to "encourage vocations and develop leadership".[1] Having returned to parish ministry, he served as Team Rector of Walthamstow in the Diocese of Chelmsford between 2006 and 2014.[3] He was also Area Dean of Waltham Forest from 2012 to 2014.[2]
In July 2014, it was announced that Heathfield would be the next Archdeacon of Aston in the Diocese of Birmingham.[4] In November 2014, he was welcomed into the diocese during at a service at St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.[1] On 30 September 2022, Heathfield resigned his archdeaconry.[5]
Personal life
Heathfield is married to Rachel.[1] Together they have two children.[2]
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