Sri Lankan priest joins the Diocese of Leeds

Chamil Fernando, an Anglican priest from Sri Lanka, has arrived in Leeds with his family this week, to study and serve in the Diocese of Leeds. 

Chamil will live in the Parish of Pudsey with his wife Evangeline and daughter Keziah (pictured), and work as an Assistant Curate at the church of St. Lawrence. Alongside his role at the church, Chamil will also attend St. Hild’s College where he will complete study for a BA in Ministry & Theology.

Since 2018 Chamil has lived and served as a priest in the Diocese of Colombo, as the Anglican clergy representative of an ecumenical church on the outskirts of the city of Colombo. 

The Rt Revd Paul Slater, Bishop of Kirkstall, said, “Chamil comes to us with a wide range of gifts and skills for Christian ministry. What he needs now is a deeper grounding in theology and we see that as the principal aim of his time with us.”

“Chamil, Evangeline and Keziah will be a great blessing to the church in Pudsey and to the Leeds Diocese and we are pleased to have found a way for them to live and work among us.  

“I particularly want to thank Mark Edwards, our Sri Lanka Task Group Link Officer, for coordinating all the work to get ready the house which will be their home for the next two to three year.  

“It is a challenging time to come to the UK and we are grateful to those who will support them as they settle into life here.”

After a long plane journey from Sri Lanka, Chamil, Evangeline and Keziah have arrived safely in their new home in Pudsey. They will now be quarantining until Wednesday, November 25. 

The Revd Richard Dimery, Incumbent at Pudsey Parish, also said, “We’re looking forward to meeting Chamil and getting to know him and his family.” 

“We also look forward to learning from him and how his gifts will impact on our parish in the years to come.”
 

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