The Revd Raymond Baudon has been appointed Deputy Director of Vocations and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Southwark.
He was ordained Deacon in 2018 and Priest in 2019 and served his curacy at St John the Evangelist, East Dulwich. During his curacy he volunteered at Southwark Foodbank and, in the parish, led a number of initiatives including an Advent art exhibition in 2019 and founding the Black Voices Matter group, which helps to bring the BLM movement into the parish. Raymond has also been a Vocations Advisor in the Diocese since 2018.
Speaking of his appointment, he said, “I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity of this new chapter in my ministry. This role is an exciting next step as it builds on many aspects of my current ministry as well as the work I have done prior to ordination training. Although I am sad to be leaving the parish of St John’s, I am looking forward to getting to know our candidates and ordinands. I am also looking forward to working with the Director of Vocations & Diocesan Director of Ordinands and the other members of the Vocations Team as we help to deliver Bishop Christopher’s vision for vocations in the Diocese.”
Raymond is originally from East Lothian and studied law at Glasgow University before moving to Edinburgh University for his postgraduate studies in law. After graduation, he worked as a solicitor and specialised in corporate finance. At the same time, he volunteered as a Samaritan and chaired the Just Festival, one of the Edinburgh festivals. In 2013 he moved to London and worked in the chaplaincy at King’s College London before training for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon.
The Revd Canon Leanne Roberts, Director of Vocations and Diocesan Director of Ordinands in Southwark, said, “We are delighted to welcome Raymond as Deputy Director of Vocations and a member of our Core Team. Raymond has proven skills and experience in vocational discernment, having been one of our vocations advisors, as well as many relevant transferable skills from his previous career. He clearly has a great deal to offer the Diocese as we seek to encourage and enable all those in our parishes to consider the ways in which God might be calling them. We are excited for Raymond’s start in this significant post after Easter, and know he looks forward to working with candidates, parishes, and the other members of our large Vocations Team.”
In his spare time Raymond is continuing his legal and theological studies with a Master’s degree in Canon Law at Cardiff University. He enjoys cooking and is looking forward to being able to travel again. He will begin his new role shortly after Easter at a date to be announced.
