Richard

Richard, who worships at Holy Trinity, North Ormesby in Middlesbrough, shares his story and how excited he is to be Stepping Up.

I grew up in and around Windsor and had a difficult childhood and didn’t really know how to express what I went through to those around me. Faith and church was not really part of family life. 

After a number of years, I moved to North Wales for seven years, it was a really difficult time where I was often bullied as a child, because I was different. 

I moved in 1992 to Middlesbrough and my life started to improve, I had a fresh start from relationships that had been difficult and I got married. I began to attend St. John’s Church in South Bank, and I found my faith which was exciting, I was confirmed and at the time was really enjoying life. 

Unfortunately my marriage broke down which led me to having difficulties with my mental health, with finances. During this time on one particular day, I was driving back to London, I felt my life had lost its meaning and I didn’t know what to do. I was driving past Christ Church in Eston and I felt something physically pull on the steering wheel towards the church. I found myself in the church and was able to connect with God in a new way.  

From this point, I found my faith again, I was able to begin to rebuild, to deal with some of my past and to find my feet. My local church was St Barnabas in Middlesbrough and I grew in faith, found friends and places to serve. However, my long term health was deteriorating and I wasn’t able to attend St Barnabas as much as I could. 

Throughout the years that went on by I had moved around a few times and eventually found myself in North Ormesby in 2014, in a home right next to Holy Trinity Church. My health meant that I couldn’t travel far so I attended Holy Trinity in the morning and would head back to St Barnabas on an evening to keep connected with those friendships. 

In 2016 I met my now fiancé Tracy, who began coming to church after I invited her, she discovered her own journey with God and recently took part in Stepping Up in 2020 and is now a Community Minister. Seeing Tracy do this inspired me to Step Up! 

As someone who struggles to read and write, the idea of a learning community was a worry but after speaking with Jonny, the local Mustard Seed team member, he spoke to me and really wanted me to be a part of Stepping Up. He helped me access Stepping Up in a different way to the journals and handouts that are part of the journey, I use a dictaphone to record my thoughts and have someone to come alongside me in the sessions, to help read handouts and understand.  

Already as I’ve begun my Stepping Up journey, my life, my faith and my time in church is growing and I am more confident, feel good and have a really great relationship with my Vicar, Bridget. 

I’m excited to discover more about Jesus, more about my community and what is out there!