My name is Jackie Fountain and I am excited to be joining you as the vicar of St Catherine’s and St Birinus at the end of November.
A little bit about me. I am married to Paul, and we have four grown up children.
I am originally from Lancashire (you will be able to tell from the accent!). Paul and I met at Warwick University and lived in Coventry for a few years. We then moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire as it was then) and worked for Tear Fund, partnering with the local church to establish a Village Water Supply Project. Eight years, three children and many adventures later, we returned to the UK and moved to Reading where Paul is working for Thames Water.
In Reading we had our fourth child. I worked as a primary school teacher. I then got a job as a Community Worker at New Hope Community Church (a church outreach, part of Greyfriars church) where I worked for 13 years. I loved working alongside the congregation reaching out to the local community; loving, serving and sharing good news with people in many different ways.
I was doing some preaching and teaching at New Hope and I wanted to study the Bible on a deeper level, so I started studying theology part time at St Mellitus College in London. I really enjoyed the learning and being challenged. I began to feel that God was calling me to ordained ministry. After a process of exploring that call, I was accepted and completed my training at St Mellitus while still working at New Hope.
I have been working in Newbury, at St Nicolas church for the past three years as a Curate. This has been a really positive and helpful time, and it has been encouraging to see God working in people’s lives and to see Him using many different kinds of people, each with their gifts and talents seeking to follow Jesus.
I am looking forward to this next step on the journey, returning to Tilehurst (where we used to live), joining you in the kingdom work which is happening there and together seeking to move forward in God’s direction. We are encouraged by all we see that God has been doing in you and through you; and we look forward with eagerness and anticipation to all that God is going to continue to be doing.
Jackie
St Catherine's 