Members of the St George's Church staff team introduce themselves in their own words.

Revd Joanna Pearson
"I was born in Yorkshire but have since lived in Blackburn, London, Liverpool, Oxford, Harrogate and Durham before coming to this great city of Leeds, and all in the short space of 30 years! The results of this are friends spread out across the country in convenient bed and breakfast locations and an accent that is very mixed up!

I greatly enjoy food – both cooking it and eating it, love walking in the countryside, watching television (favourite programme – Westwing!), going to the cinema and having hot baths – not at the same time! My new challenge for this year is to learn how to Garden! A key requirement for the house I have just moved into.

I am the curate at St George’s which means I am here to serve this place in many different ways and to learn lots along the way.

I have been going to church since before I was born and grew up in a very loving and supportive Christian family. However when I was eight and we moved from Blackburn to London everything changed and I found myself asking lots of questions about life and whether there was anything that didn’t change! Hearing the good news again of the God who loved me at a week away gave me the opportunity to respond to God for myself.

My story has been one of getting to know more of God ever since, being continually challenged by him and called on to new things. A summer in Kenya with a mission team when I was 17 was a great faith building experience.

After studying Geography at university I trained to teach and taught for five years before being called by God to train for Ordination.

My vision is for us to capture something of the excitement of the adventure of faith that we are called into. To learn more of what it means to truly have God as Lord of every area of our lives. My passion is for the church to be a place where everyone of every age feels welcomed and valued, a place of fun, laughter and support where people are able to share together their joys and sorrows, a place where every person is able to enjoy worshipping their Lord and Saviour, a place that nurtures faith and equips people to share their faith with others."

joanna.pearson@stgeorgesleeds.org.uk