After a thorough appointment process, the Bishop of Sheffield is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Roland Slade as Vicar and Oversight Minister of the Benefice of St Timothy’s, Crookes, and The Vine, Netherthorpe and Upperthorpe.
Roland is currently Associate Vicar of All Saints Ecclesall here in the Diocese of Sheffield. We look forward to welcoming Roland, Caroline and their daughter Zoe as they make the move across Sheffield in the near future, and we aim to license Roland sometime soon after the summer and once he has served his three months notice.
Roland is originally from South London, and attended Eltham College (the same school as ‘Chariots of Fire’ runner and missionary Eric Liddell). He also spent weekends at the Junior Royal College of Music, studying piano, organ, violin, and singing. Roland studied Biochemistry at the University of Southampton, where he became a Christian thanks to two flatmates who now live in Hillsborough.
Leaving university, his new faith took him to St Aldate’s in Oxford where he became a Worship Intern. Pursuing God’s call further, he undertook a year in Tanzania through the Church Mission Society where he taught at St John’s University, and regularly helped with services at Dodoma Cathedral. He then returned to work for CMS in Oxford, before training for ordination at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. Whilst training, he met Caroline and the newly wed couple arrived in Marlow, Buckinghamshire for Roland’s curacy. After a joyful four years of ministry, Roland spent some time providing interim ministerial cover for the parish of Chalfont St Peter, and was then appointed as Associate Vicar at All Saints Ecclesall.
Moving to Sheffield brought many new delights, including their daughter Zoe who was born in 2023. Roland is now delighted to step into a new role with St Timothy’s and The Vine, and looks forward to many fruitful years of ministry here. In his spare time, Roland enjoys local beer, supporting Leinster rugby team, and training for ultra marathons – with recent challenges including The Lap, the Maverick Peaks 50, and the Seven Valleys.