Sunday 12 August 2007 11:45pm - 12:15am on ITV1.
In a new six part documentary series for ITV1, Vicars’ Wives follows the highs and lows of three wives based in the Winchester Diocese.
The program gives an insightful look into the lives of three women each married to priests in the Church of England. They are: Nickie Johnson, wife of the Rector of Southampton City Centre; Sarah Salisbury, wife of the Vicar of Lymington; and Debbie Smart, wife of the then Curate of Shirley and now Vicar of Brockenhurst. Filmed over a period of five months, Vicars’ Wives captures the essence of parish life.
Programme one follows them as they prepare for Mothering Sunday.
Neil and Debbie Smart are getting ready to move to their new parish of Brockenhurst in the New Forest with their three children Millie, 15, Rachel, 13 and Robbie, 11.
“People look to our family as a family who should have all the answers, because Neil is the vicar he must know everything and therefore I must know everything,” says Debbie.
Her children describe her as ‘wild, whacky and willing to be everyone’s friend.’ The move to Brockenhurst holds particular significance for the couple as Neil will be serving in the church they were married 18 years ago. Neil, formally a vet, says: “Coming here as a parish priest is a journey of being set free.”
In Southampton, Nickie, wife of the city centre rector Ian Johnson, reflects on 36 years of marriage to a priest.
“Being his wife has been very hard, not because of him but because of what he does,” she says.
“Priesthood is integral in what’s made our marriage work,” says Ian. Their two grown up children Kate and Abby describe their mum as an ‘archetypal vicar’s wife’ and this Mothering Sunday they are set to accompany her as she delivers her first Sunday address. She has been asked to visit a neighboring parish to deliver the Mothering Sunday address on behalf of the Mothers Union.
Over in Lymington, Sarah Salisbury and her husband Peter have had a very spiritual journey into the church. When they were married Peter was an atheist, but found God after the birth of their eldest daughter Emma, and ever since have fully embraced the roles of vicar and vicar’s wife.
“We’ve been called together as a couple to do this, and we felt that from the word go, so it’s been a joy to be alongside Peter.”
As mother of two daughters Emma and Alex, both now at university, Sarah is also a part time college teacher, spiritual director and support to Peter. In preparation for Mothering Sunday service she leads the parish volunteers in posie making – the Lymington flower arrangers are celebrated for their wonderful bouquets.
“I think the main role of a vicar and vicar’s wife is to come to a parish and love the people, to love the people in the church and to love the people in the community,” says Sarah.
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