Get to know your colleagues

Sarah Radford, Archivist and Records Manager

As part of our new series of colleague profiles, this week we're finding out more about Archivist and Records Manager, Sarah Radford, who has worked at the Cathedral for 10 years.

'I'm part of the Collections team, with responsibility for the Cathedral's Archives; a vast collection of records documenting the history of St Paul's dating back to the 11th century. It's my job to care for these valuable records, making sure they are stored correctly to ensure their long-term preservation, as well as provide access to them, making them available to researchers.

I am also the Cathedral's Records Manager, so I work to ensure that the modern records produced by the Cathedral today are identified and captured for permanent retention. 

I'm passionate about history and what we can learn from it, so I feel very lucky to do what I do. I'm always happy to chat all things records, archives and history, so if you have a burning question about any or all of the above, please get in touch!

I began working in archives as an undergraduate, and completed an MA in Archives and Records Management while working at Lambeth Palace Library. Before joining St Paul's I was Assistant Archivist at the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

I've also volunteered for a number of heritage organisations, undertaking a variety of tasks including boxing up stones in the attics of Hampton Court Palace, and showing visitors the death mask of Oliver Cromwell in the London home of Thomas Carlyle.

In my spare time, I am usually to be found at my sewing machine, teaching myself dressmaking skills.'

Finally, here is Sarah's book/TV or radio show/film/podcast recommendation:

'I'm a big fan of the TV show 'Ghosts' (BBC) - it was my go-to during lockdown and I still return to it when I need cheering up!'

Introducing Revd Tessa Bosworth, Assistant Curate

It's wonderful to announce that Revd Tessa Bosworth will be joining the Cathedral Ministerial Team as Assistant Curate for one year from 1st July 2023, to complete her curacy. Tessa will be responsible to the Chaplain, the Revd Paula Hollingsworth, on a day to day basis. 

Tessa served the first part of her curacy in the neighbouring parish of Holy Sepulchre, prior to which she was training at St Mellitus College, London, with a parish placement at St Peter’s Bethnal Green. Before ordination training, she worked in events, publishing and bookselling. She is an experienced choral singer and has also recently started playing her cello in a local orchestra.

Our Canon Steward, Neil Evans says,

'Curates, in this context, are clergy in their first three years of ordained ministry, and the post is regarded as a training post. Tessa is a ‘fully-fledged’ priest who will take a full part in ministerial duties and responsibilities, and she brings lots of experience from before ordination as well. The year she will spend at St Paul’s will contribute to her formation and training before she goes on to be a vicar or equivalent. Normally curates will train in parish churches, and this is probably the first time we have had someone doing part of their training at St Paul’s in this way; we are delighted!'