Laura grew up in a village on the south coast of England before studying theology at Exeter university. She then moved to London where she spent six years as a Kids, Youth and Families worker at a medium-sized church. She still has a real passion for working with children and young people! After that, she trained for ordination at Westcott House in Cambridge, which was a fantastic experience full of laughter where she made wonderful friends. She can’t believe how many people assume training with a bunch of future vicars will be quiet and boring – that couldn’t be further from the truth!
Laura has a strong belief in inclusivity in church, and is enthusiastic about encouraging vocations, particularly in young women. She loves the eucharist, and her calling to ordination is centred around a sense of belonging behind the altar. She is also a qualified yoga instructor and is passionate about using yoga to pray and to reach out to the community. Her advice to anyone exploring their calling from God is never to let anyone typecast you or make assumptions about who you are. God’s kingdom is full of diversity and surprises, and Laura would never have imagined a few years ago that she would be getting ordained in her twenties! She can’t wait to move to Lichfield and get to know a new place, new people and new ministries.