Rachel Howlett, a former secondary school teacher, has embraced a new calling as curate for the St J’s Group Benefice, a cluster of Anglican churches serving rural Somerset. This group includes St John’s Peasedown, St Julian’s Wellow, St James’ Foxcote, and St Julian’s Shoscombe. Over the next three years, Rachel will undergo her curacy under the mentorship of Revd Matthew Street.
Rachel’s background includes teaching Psychology and Religious Studies before taking a career break to focus on her family. During this time, she remained deeply involved in her local church community—chairing a pre-school, founding a toddler church, and leading youth sessions on Sundays. A profound turning point came when she faced and overcame advanced cancer, which fueled her spiritual growth and inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in applied theology with a focus on children, youth, and community engagement.
“I’m truly excited to serve alongside the St J’s Group,” Rachel shared. “I have heard wonderful things about how these churches are making a difference in Peasedown, Wellow, and Shoscombe.”
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Following her studies, Rachel worked as a children’s, families, and youth worker in a Bath church and later served as a chaplain at a city school, where she led large services with congregations exceeding 1,000 people at Bath Abbey.
Within the Church of England, a curate is essentially a vicar-in-training. Rachel will collaborate with Revd Matthew Street, who has faithfully served as the vicar of Peasedown St John and Wellow for over 20 years.
Revd Street expressed enthusiasm about Rachel’s arrival: “The challenges our society faces today call for fresh and innovative ways to serve our communities. I am confident Rachel’s passion and experience will be invaluable in our ongoing mission to love, care for, and support those we serve.”