After a period back in the States, teaching at a school and going through the ordination process in the Episcopal Church, I returned to the United Kingdom in 2000 to work for one year at Lambeth Palace as research assistant to Archbishop George Carey. At the request of my diocesan bishop, Archbishop Carey ordained me to the diaconate in Canterbury Cathedral, and I then returned home to my own diocese for my curacy and priesting.
In 2004 I again came back to the UK, this time to Durham, England, to begin a PhD under the supervision of David Brown -- then Van Mildert Canon Professor at Durham University and Durham Cathedral. After the first year, I became chaplain at St Chad's College, one of the university's constituent colleges. But then, after my second year as chaplain, David accepted a new appointment as the Wardlaw Professor of Theology, Aesthetics, and Culture up here in St Andrews.
I knew I wanted to keep working with David as my supervisor, but I remained in Durham for one additional year to give St Chad's three full years' worth of chaplaincy. Now, however, I've moved up to St Andrews to -- I hope! -- finish the dissertation. I look forward to living here this year, belonging to the intellectual community of St Mary's College, and participating in the life of All Saints Church. Although it is not at all what I thought would happen when I went to Durham in 2004, I am very pleased to have ended up, full circle, back in Scotland.
(Editor's Note: it is kind of Rob to refer to me as 'a young curate'... It is good to have him here as part of All Saints while he completes his doctorate, and I look forward to hearing him preach when we celebrate the Feast of All Saints on Sunday 2nd November.)