My name is Amber Wood and I will be licensed as a Lay Minister to the Leith Hill Benefice on June 22nd this year. I have been training part-time with the Guildford Diocese Local Ministry Programme for the last 3 years. I have worshipped in Surrey village churches throughout my lifetime and I am passionate about rural ministry. For the last 15 years, I have been part of the congregation of St Peter and St Paul, Ewhurst and it was here that I first started to explore my call to ministry.

I work full-time as an NHS Children’s Physio in West Sussex and have done so for many years. I treat young people with a variety of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal conditions but my special interest is Oncology. I absolutely love my job and find it a great privilege to be working alongside children and their families. I particularly enjoy supporting and teaching Physiotherapy students when they come on placement to our service.

When I am not working or studying, I love to walk in the Surrey Hills with my 2 dogs Santi (an Italian Spinone) and Tarka (a Border terrier). I especially love Holmbury Hill and Leith Hill so I am really excited to be joining the ministry team in an area that I know so well from my weekend walks. I gain great energy and inspiration from being outdoors and often find that my most meaningful and connected prayer happens when I am outside.

I am really looking forward to meeting and getting to know you all!