I have known Chamil Fernando for only a short time – I took him around the vicarage and gardens three weeks ago, when he came to interview for role of Associate Priest, based in Mayfield.
His wife Evangeline was imminently expecting their third child and did not come and he, poor fellow, was juggling
carless travel from Leeds; advice on getting here with all the road closures and, no doubt, had some trepidation about the dramatic change from working and living in urban Leeds to rural Mayfield.
Chamil is from Sri Lanka, has trained for the Church at theological college in UK and served at Pudsey Parish Church in Leeds. At the same time, he has been working in the Care sector. He comes to our Church as an associate priest, just
like Martin before him, but in the capacity of ‘House for Duty’.
Lovely vicarage but no salary
Chamil’s family and he will have an elegant house, a massive garden and orchard and, as a curiosity of his employment, no salary or furnishings for that same elegant house! Kind people are helping him right now to furnish the house for a
family of five.
Chamil’s wife, Evangeline saw the vicarage for the first time today, 9-year-old Keziah whizzed around the garden, saw the treehouse and promptly she asked: ‘Is this ours?’
Yes, of course it is. Tiny baby Kleiah was fast asleep and firmly attached to her mother in all this. 2-year-old Chael was left at their home in Leeds with a friend of his parents. A nice surprise awaits him.
Chamil will be moving to Mayfield later in April
Chamil is a fanatic cricketer, (he has already met Ed Barker from Wooton cricket club) and enjoys rugby. He’s a nice guy, and I know you will all like and welcome him and his wonderful family to their new life in Mayfield.
Charles Wimbush
Read more in the Mayfield Church and Village News at https://www.mayfieldparishchurch.org/magazine.html