final instalment of caroline's story
PART 3 A NEW CHAPTER OF MINISTRY
Caroline’s mum had been the first woman to train for Reader ministry in around the year 2000 within the church in Orpington they attended as a family and has always been a spiritual mentor to both Caroline and her husband over the years. Her mum’s ongoing demonstration of faith and spirituality, along with her wisdom, preaching, practical ministry and many missional activities, as well as being a great mum, auntie and nan to the growing family, has always been and continues to be an inspiration. Having drawn on her dad’s love of music and making, Caroline’s faith and spirituality have been greatly fostered by her relationship with her mum, who now continues to serve as Lay Reader in the Diocese of Peterborough.
In 2013, Caroline discovered the new Licensed Lay Ministry pathway—a role similar to Reader but with a broader remit. After completing her training within the Diocese of Rochester during her mid-40s, she began preaching, teaching, leading creative arts retreats and courses, as well as taking on wider responsibilities within church leadership.
At the same time, she continued teaching, developed her ceramics business and remained deeply involved in voluntary ministry. Whether leading community art projects or creating opportunities for people to explore faith, Caroline consistently sought to connect church and community.
Following God's Call to Cornwall
For many years Caroline and Dave felt drawn to Cornwall. It had been their honeymoon destination, and they regularly returned to camp near Sennen and St Just. Gradually, the dream became a calling.
Leaving behind the church community they had served for so many years was not easy. With no job waiting for her—only a firm conviction that God was leading—she simply said "yes" and moved.
Caroline moved from serving one familiar congregation up to 2019, to subsequently becoming involved with 15 churches across North and Mid Cornwall through working with both the Methodist and Anglican Churches.
Their Cornish home included a small holiday let, and Caroline became a letting manager, discovering, as she jokes, that she was remarkably good at ironing - having managed to raise two children with very little ironing involved!
It was not long before new opportunities emerged. Caroline became a Schools' Worker and Lay Pastor with the Methodist Church in the Bodmin, Padstow and Wadebridge Circuit, and helped to deliver a joint church family project. Through this work she met Revd Paul Holley, Director of Bodmin Way.
She soon established a community choir for Bodmin Way, helped lead the church youth club, became one of the schools' workers and developed a ministry officiating at funerals. Alongside this, she served for a year as Mission Enabler in Newquay before taking up her current role as part-time pastor at Tubestation Methodist Church in Polzeath.
Faith Expressed Through Creativity
Alongside her ministry, Caroline has continued to develop as a professional ceramic artist. Her handcrafted ceramics are sold through Zeath Gallery, while her music continues to flourish as she takes on the challenge of learning the Celtic harp. She also plays with the Cornish Tunes Club at intoBodmin, sings with Millpool Chorale and enjoys exploring songwriting.
Autumn Gold Bowl Mussel Vessel Shorescape Tile
Caroline singing with Millpool Chorale
Throughout every stage of her journey, creativity has remained inseparable from her faith.
Caroline brings together traditional and contemporary expressions of church, embracing both established worship and pioneering forms of ministry. Whether serving schools, supporting surfers in the Polzeath community, leading choirs, preaching, writing poetry, creating ceramics or encouraging others through the arts, her ministry consistently builds bridges between church and community.
A Life Still Unfolding
Caroline Bailey's story is one of faithful obedience, artistic creativity and a willingness to say "yes" to wherever God leads.
From the shy teenager playing flute behind a pillar to a preacher, pastor, teacher, musician and ceramic artist, she has discovered that every gift can become part of God's mission.
Will she ever slow down? Perhaps the brand-new kiln in the pottery shed at the bottom of her garden will tempt her to spend a little more time creating ceramics. Then again, knowing Caroline, that's simply likely to become another avenue for sharing faith, creativity and community.
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