Wednesday 4th March marked the fifth anniversary of Annabel and John taking over the Red Lion, and saw Elphin Lloyd-Jones guide Revd Canon Jason St. John Nicolle through their pub’s second “Fireside Chat”.
The son of a teacher (though his father moved into the clergy later in life), Father Jason grew up in Leicestershire, before moving to Dorset and then doing his History degree “in this area”. That led to an initial career in law, working in London, including at a Law Centre helping people with debt or gambling problems. Enjoying the pastoral side of that work, he felt a calling to become a parish priest.
Ordained in 2004, his first such role was as a curate in Kidlington, before he moved here in 2008 with his wife Maranda. Father Jason revealed the pleasure he now gets from writing organ music and performing recitals, as well as spending time with his family; and also from the opportunities he gets to teach, or just to “be there” for others. At Elphin’s prompting, we learned his views on a wide range of topics; from the decline of church attendances, to reflections on human nature, the subjectivity of knowledge, and the violence we see in the world today.
The whole conversation can now be watched at https://vimeo.com/1171387641?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci (with thanks to Alastair Laidlaw for his video-recording). Father Jason’s next Organ Recital is at St. Andrew’s Hagbourne, at 5pm on Easter Sunday (5th April).