Helen Topham

The ordination service for Rev Helen Topham will be held on 9 November at 9:30 am at St Mary’s Silverstream.

In late 2020, I began to sense that God was calling me out of my career and personal plans into the unknown. As I said yes to this, doors began to open and my faith has gradually become more integrated across my life as I have listened and responded to God’s call and prompting. Over the past several years I have been led with increasing clarity to a sense of vocation as a Chaplain. The common thread in the direction that God has been leading me is ‘out’- out to the edge - often to those outside of church, to people spiritually seeking, to people reflecting on their lives and faith journeys, and to people seeking hope in the midst of challenging life circumstances.

I have felt God leading me to be a welcomer, and a hope–bearer, to invite in, to bless and to accompany others, acknowledging and reflecting the divine spark that God has already placed in them. In mid 2024 I became a Chaplain to the tāne and wāhine of Arohata and Rimutaka prisons after a couple of years of rest home chaplaincy, community-based work and investing in pastoral and theological study. It has been a wonderful privilege and a huge challenge to learn to serve as a Deacon and  Chaplain and to see God’s activity in the people I encounter.  I continue to sense God’s call to be a priest -  to build up, strengthen and encourage the faithful,  to share peoples’ joys and sorrows, and to accompany people journeying to their true selves, to wholeness, healing and to God.