Peter Taylor: the new Superintendent Methodist Minister for Boston Methodist Circuit

Hello everyone!

I am Rev. Peter Taylor, and I am the new Superintendent Methodist Minister for Boston Methodist Circuit. I am grateful to those I have met already who have made me and Deacon Sam feel so welcome and I am really looking forward to getting to know you and others as the days go by and becoming involved in church and community life.

To introduce myself; I was born in Peterborough. Lived in Derby until the age of 8 and then lived in Boston for 12 years.  I became a Christian aged 16. Work life started in Boston, as an apprentice at Burton Menswear. In 1991 I was promoted to assistant manager in Long Eaton and lived in Derby. Then a few years later I got my first manager post in Leicester.  Working in various stores in and around the city until my last post at Royal Leamington Spa. Around this time I met Sam, who was in Boston training to be a nurse.

We were married in 2000 in Leicester.  Sam was a community nurse whilst I was working for a charity, Rathbone Training helping excluded young people gain employment. Sam went to Kosova & Macedonia on short mission trips with a Baptist Charity called Smile International, which had a huge impact on her faith and life. We both went out to Kosova for a week in 2002 and it impacted me too. We prayed and then applied to the World Church Office now Global Relationships of the Methodist Church.

We were accepted as Mission Partners and served in Bulgaria for just over 3 years. This time was an incredible experience for us and before we returned to the UK, we felt called to Ordained ministry. We were accepted and trained for 3 years at Queens, Birmingham. Sam as a Deacon and myself as a Presbyter.  

Prior to Boston we served in our first appointment in Barry, South Wales and then in a circuit within North Notts & North Derbyshire. In our last appointment, Sam served for the latter part, largely due to the Covid pandemic, outside the church in the NHS as both a Chaplain and a nurse.

We have two adult children - Rose is 21 and graduated from University a few months ago and is near Derby working for Autism East Midlands. Matt is 18 and is going to join the Army in October, training to be an Armourer.   

Sadly this year in the space of just three months both our Dad’s died. There has been much to do and still are things ahead to navigate. As you will have seen, the Methodist Connexion and District chair Rev Angy Long have recommended that I proceed steadily in this new appointment.

In this heatwave year it is hard to think that Autumn is approaching soon!  October is the month when we see trees preparing for winter and I love the words of Donna Ashworth’s poem, ‘There is something so beautiful about Autumn.’ She reminds us that the trees show us how to let go, so new life can come. The Bible also reminds us in Isaiah 40:8, ‘The grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever.’ My prayer for us all is that in the changing seasons of life, we may each know God’s loving presence with us.  And that, being in beautiful Lincolnshire we will look with God the 3:1 to the skies for inspiration. Thank you for your understanding, patience and prayers.  Deacon Sam and I look forward to being with you all soon. 

May God bless you,

Rev. Pete.