friendsfirst Press Releases

Vicars marry thanks to friendsfirst

Two vicars in  Lancashire were soon hearing church bells after their romance blossomed through Christian introduction agency friendsfirst.

Rev Ian Watts, 41, and Rev Rachel Simper, 37, were married in October 2004. They are  now looking forward to the birth of their first child
next February.

Ian said: "We  are definitely kindred spirits. But  I am sure we would have never met if it wasn't for friendsfirst. There is no reason why our paths would have crossed."

Although they both met many people in the course of their busy ministries, Ian said he had found it difficult to find single people in the right age group.  Rachel also was beginning to feel increasingly aware of the stigma of being a female single vicar.

Both Ian and Rachel prayed for guidance around the same time, and within a few days they both received a leaflet from friendsfirst.
Rachel said: "'If you are asking God for guidance on something, there's only so long you can ignore what happens."

They both took the plunge and joined the agency around the same time. Rachel's letter was the first one Ian received. After exchanging
letters for a short time, they met up and liked each other straight away. After an 18 month courtship they married.

The couple now minister in adjacent parishes and live in Rachel's vicarage.

Ian said: "Our bishops have been wonderfully supportive and our parishioners are just lovely. I don't think they have had a baby in
the vicarage before and everyone is so looking forward to its arrival.

"We hope that through our family we can be a good model for work-life balance.  We both believe that the call to marriage and family life
is as much a vocation as the call to the priesthood and one will complement the other.   We have been richly blessed."

For more information or pictures please contact Katharine at friendsfirst on: 0121 427 1286

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