St James' Church Islington

Fr John Burniston – Vicar (Parish Priest)

Fr John was inducted as the new Incumbent in a Service of Welcome and Collation, conducted by Rt Revd Stephen Oliver, Bishop of Stepney, on Saturday 21st March 2009 .

Fr John comes to St James’ Church, with a wide experience of ministry in the Dioceses of Durham, Coventry and Bradford. He was ordained priest in 1984 after attending theological college at St John’s College, Durham and served his title at St James’, Owton Manor, set in an enormous housing estate on the outskirts of Hartlepool.

In 1986, he moved to Rugby, where his role in a large team ministry was in liturgical formation; work among young people and, towards the end, the merger of two churches to form St Peter’s and St John’s, Clifton Road.

In 1993, John was called north to Bradford where, in addition to lots more youth work and the re-ordering of the Church, he was a founder member of the local Regeneration Committee (the Upper Heaton Working Together
Group) and for almost ten years, he served as Bishop’s Adviser in Liturgy. In 2003 he completed a Masters degree in Liturgy and Music at Leeds, following a period of sabbatical study in Berkeley, California.

Before his ordination, John was Head of RE and history specialist in a large comprehensive school in Crawley, West Sussex.

John has been married to Maria, a Consultant Medical Physicist, for almost 28 years and they have two daughters. Sinead, who recently completed a degree in English and Drama at Royal Holloway College, London, is
currently seeking a career in theatre management. Catriona, who has yet to complete her A levels in Bradford, is hoping to read psychology at University this coming autumn.

The Burniston family leaves West Yorkshire with a host of happy memories, many of which are recorded in a library of photo albums. As a keen amateur photographer, John has found enormous pleasure in keeping track of events
in and around the warm and constantly evolving Church community of St Martin’s, Heaton, Bradford.

In addition, they have also learned to love curries, dry white wine, stunning views of the moors, theatre and concert visits, and the joy of living in a wonderful stone Vicarage set in rolling parkland on the edge of the city. They have also taken full advantage of all the opportunities provided by their near neighbour and ancient rival, Leeds! After fifteen years in Bradford, a move to inner London feels like a major new challenge.

But they are reassured that God has had his hand in all of this and look forward with real excitement to becoming part of St James’ Church and learning how to bring whatever gifts they have to the service of the Church and the
wider community in Islington.

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Fr John Burniston – Vicar (Parish Priest) Fr John was inducted as the new Incumbent in a Service of Welcome and Collation, conducted by Rt Revd Stephen Oliver, Bishop of Stepney, on Saturday 21st March 2009 . Fr John comes to St James’ Church, with a wide experience of ministry in the Dioceses of Durham, Coventry and Bradford. He was ordained priest in 1984 after attending theological college at St John’s College, Durham and served his title at St James’, Owton Manor, set in an enormous housing estate on the outskirts of Hartlepool. In 1986, he moved to Rugby, where his role in a large team ministry was in liturgical formation; work among young people and, towards the end, the merger of two churches to form St Peter’s and St John’s, Clifton Road. In 1993, John was called north to Bradford where, in addition to lots more youth work and the re-ordering of the Church, he was a founder member of the local Regeneration Committee (the Upper Heaton Working Together Group) and for almost ten years, he served as Bishop’s Adviser in Liturgy. In 2003 he completed a Masters degree in Liturgy and Music at Leeds, following a period of sabbatical study in Berkeley, California. Before his ordination, John was Head of RE and history specialist in a large comprehensive school in Crawley, West Sussex. John has been married to Maria, a Consultant Medical Physicist, for almost 28 years and they have two daughters. Sinead, who recently completed a degree in English and Drama at Royal Holloway College, London, is currently seeking a career in theatre management. Catriona, who has yet to complete her A levels in Bradford, is hoping to read psychology at University this coming autumn. The Burniston family leaves West Yorkshire with a host of happy memories, many of which are recorded in a library of photo albums. As a keen amateur photographer, John has found enormous pleasure in keeping track of events in and around the warm and constantly evolving Church community of St Martin’s, Heaton, Bradford. In addition, they have also learned to love curries, dry white wine, stunning views of the moors, theatre and concert visits, and the joy of living in a wonderful stone Vicarage set in rolling parkland on the edge of the city. They have also taken full advantage of all the opportunities provided by their near neighbour and ancient rival, Leeds! After fifteen years in Bradford, a move to inner London feels like a major new challenge. But they are reassured that God has had his hand in all of this and look forward with real excitement to becoming part of St James’ Church and learning how to bring whatever gifts they have to the service of the Church and the wider community in Islington. Return to top
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