New vicar is proud to be Ossy parish’s first
JON MACPHERSON
THE newly created parish of Oswaldtwistle has appointed its first ever vicar.
Rev Martin JT Joss will take over the running of St Paul’s, Immanuel and All Saints churches next week – six months after the new parish was constituted last November.
The father-of-two said he is excited to be taking up the role and has also revealed what drew him to the town. He said: “I’ve been keeping an eye on the church press and then I saw the one for Ossy.
“Even as a teenager if you said to me where in Lancashire Oswaldtwistle was I wouldn’t have been sure. But I recognise the name and I just think it’s a wonderful name. You cannot say Oswaldtwistle and try not to smile.
“It’s a lovely name, but to modern ears it’s slightly quirky sounding. I have a very broad sense of humour and quite quirky and when people heard that’s where I was going they said it sounds like it was made for you.”
Rev Joss was ordained in 2003 and served as a curate in Harlow in Essex for nearly 10 years.
He is now looking to make the churches a vital part of the community.
He said: “There’s a lot of lovely people who love Jesus.
“They want somebody who can come and inspire them and encourage them. The first few months there will be a lot of getting to know people and learning about the area and I’m strongly committed to the idea that churches should be getting involved in community life and serving the community.
“People are very proud to say they come from Ossy and there’s a lot of community pride.
“I certainly want the churches under my leadership to continue to encourage them to get involved and show how we can make a difference and be a blessing to Oswaldtwistle.”
Parishioners have already shown their support for their new vicar by donating £100 towards his recent ‘mean bean challenge’ in aid of the Tearfund charity.
The challenge involves eating nothing but plain rice and beans for five days to experience what it’s like living in poverty.
Rev Joss will be instituted at St Paul’s Church on Catlow Street on Friday, May 5.
Bishop Philip and Archdeacon Michael Everitt will carry out the induction, starting at 7.30pm.