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New Vice Principal Appointed

Westcott House is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Rachel Rosborough as Vice Principal, with effect from September 2023.

Rachel brings with her a considerable breadth of experience across parish ministry, vocations, and theological education. Raised in the Midlands, Rachel came to faith at the age of 16 and studied for her first degree at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge before later training for Ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham. She was ordained Deacon in 2008 in Gloucester Cathedral and served her title in Cheltenham. Rachel brings fifteen years’ parish ministry experience in the dioceses of Gloucester and Ely to her new role at Westcott House.

Since 2017 Rachel has been the Vicar of Grantchester and Newnham and knows Westcott House well as a supervisor of ordinands who have spent time on placement in her churches. Rachel is also the Rural Dean of Cambridge South Deanery, a member of Ely Diocesan Synod, and has been a Vocations Advisor for the Diocese of Ely. She is honorary Chaplain at Wolfson College, Cambridge and from 2018 until 2021 was a part-time tutor at Ridley Hall alongside her parish role.

During her time in Gloucester, Rachel was Link Officer for the diocesan partnership with the Diocese of El Camino Real, California, as part of a three-way link between Gloucester, El Camino Real, and Western Tanganyika (Tanzania). Outside of work, Rachel’s interests include travel, birdwatching, cooking and pub quizzes.

As Vice Principal, Rachel will work closely with the Principal in the leadership of the college, particularly in regard to the day to day formation of ordinands for ministry, and will have oversight of admissions and safeguarding. Rachel will also support the college’s work to improve access across the site and enable the transition to net zero.

Speaking on her appointment, Rachel said: ‘I am delighted to be joining Westcott House from September as Vice Principal. I am very much looking forward to being part of such a welcoming, inclusive, Christian Community. I am, though, sad to be leaving the parishes of Grantchester and Newnham as I have so enjoyed being their Vicar for these past six years. I am pleased to be able to remain in the wonderful city of Cambridge and I look forward to what God will do in this next chapter.’

The Principal of Westcott House, the Revd Dr Helen Dawes, said: ‘I am delighted that following a highly competitive process we have been able to appoint the Revd Rachel Rosborough as our next Vice Principal. Rachel is a highly experienced priest who will bring wisdom, enormous practical experience of ministry, and a deep-rooted, inclusive, and prayerful spirituality to our life together at Westcott House. I look forward to Rachel joining the staff team in September and to all that God will make possible through her as we continue to serve the Church by resourcing those whom God calls into ministry.’

The appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of safer recruitment processes.