The next team member we meet in our two-minute interview is Derek Chedzey.
Derek Chedzey has been Archdeacon of Hereford since 2018. He has a particular emphasis on supporting parishes in the Hereford Archdeaconry, but as a member of the Bishop's Staff team, he also has input in empowering all of our church members to Proclaim Christ and Grow Disciples. He lives in Hereford with his wife Claire, who is a Reader.
We asked him some questions.
I: Hello Derek, thanks for taking part in the 2-min interview. Our first question is a nice one! What is your favourite food?
DC: This is a really tricky question, and a bit of me wants to cheat! My favourite cake is Coffee or Cappuccino Cake, but it is hard to say it is my favourite food. If I am allowed to cheat I would say my favourite savoury food is Roast Beef with all the trimmings and my favourite pudding is Banoffee Pie. If you make me choose, I will stick with Coffee Cake!
I: I know it isn’t easy to choose just one favourite food! If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
DC: This is really easy although I love Chicago in the United States the best place in the world is Pembrokeshire. The coastal Path from Amroth to Cardigan is one of the most stunningly beautiful places in all the world even if it is wet and stormy! If I had to choose a specific part, then it would be the section from Freshwater West to Freshwater East. This includes the completely unspoilt section from the Green Bridge of Wales to St Govan’s Chapel in the Castlemartin firing range and Barafundle Bay which on a sunny day looks like it could be in the tropics. I love it here because it is so peaceful and quiet and has so much to remind me of the wonders of creation. It is also like so much of this coast is ever-changing and is never the same twice, and I never tire of walking this section of the coastal path. It also has a really rubbish phone signal which means you can’t be got hold of so it truly is a respite from the busyness of my role. Finally, it has the place that offers the best Cream Tea ever at the Olde Worlde Café at Bosherston!
I: I love Pembrokeshire, next time I want to try the Cream Tea. The final question is the one we ask everyone - What do you enjoy about working at Hereford Diocese?
DC: I have to say like so many others before me, it’s the people! I am not sure we always recognise it, but we have some really talented people who love and care for our churches and parishes in the Diocesan Office, and I have the privilege of working with them. I also have the responsibility of working with our churches and despite the challenges that our deeply rural Diocese throws at us I am consistently impressed by their hospitality and generosity in serving their communities. It really is a joy to serve the parishes in our Diocese I have worked in many places in my 30 years of ministry and I can truly say I feel at home here and never tire of the opportunities to work with such brilliant people.