The Revd Ceri Payne to become Associate Vicar 

The Acting Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Dr Dagmar Winter, has announced (8 August 2024) that the Revd Ceri Payne is to join the ministry team at St John's as Associate Vicar (Self Supporting Minister) from October 2024.

Ceri is currently Curate at Great St Mary’s Church in the city, a role she will continue until September this year. She is no stranger to St John's, having completed the first two years of her curacy here from 2021-2023. Immediately prior to this she was training for the ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.

As full-time Associate Vicar at St John’s, Ceri’s particular responsibilities will include working with colleagues to develop a vision and strategy for mission and outreach to people in the parish, and to increase opportunities for learning and discipleship amongst the congregation. She will also become part of Homerton College’s Chaplaincy Team, and be involved in the regular pattern of worship at St John’s, leading services and preaching.

The Revd James Shakespeare, Vicar of St John the Evangelist, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Ceri back to St John’s in this new role. She will bring with her all the experience and learning she has gained at Great St Mary’s, at the same time as understanding our local context and the many exciting opportunities there are for sharing God’s love here in our parish.” 

Revd Ceri Payne said:

“I’m thrilled to be re-joining St John the Evangelist Church in the new role of Associate Vicar. Living in the parish for the last 22 years has given me a lasting love for the place and for the people who live, work and study here. I’m looking forward to working again with James, the ministry team and the wider church community, helping people to connect with God and sharing the good news of Jesus.”

Prior to training for ordination, Ceri worked full-time as a barrister in London for 33 years, specialising in Company Law. She has four adult children and is married to Prof Mike Payne FRS (researcher at the Cavendish Lab, and Director of Natural Sciences (physics) at Pembroke College). In 2020 Ceri was a member of the Magdalene College team that reached the finals of the TV show, University Challenge. She chaired the Cambridge branch of the charity Friends International from 2016-2022, and currently hosts UK and overseas students working in Cambridge International Outreach’s summer programme for international students.

Ceri will be formally installed by the Ven Alex Hughes, Archdeacon of Cambridge, at a service at St John the Evangelist Church, Hills Road, Cambridge at 10am on Sunday 20 October 2024.