Father Andrew Burton was licensed to the post on February 1st 1994. Previously he had been Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity, Blacon in Chester where he was assistant priest to a former vicar of St. James’s, Father Tony Boyd.

Father Burton was born at Lichfield, Staffordshire in 1963 and worshipped at the parish church of St. Bartholomew, Farewell. He read theology at St. Katherine’s College, Liverpool before training for the ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. Over the years he has had a particular interest in New Testament studies and in the theology of Bishop John A.T. Robinson.

Following ordination to the diaconate at Lichfield Cathedral in 1988, Father Burton served his title at The Church of the Holy Spirit, Harlescott in Shrewsbury under Father Geoffrey Staton. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1989 and served in the parish until his move to Blacon in 1991. During this time he developed an interest in the healing ministry of the church, which he has been able to continue at St. James’s through membership of the Guild of St. Raphael.

Father Burton is also a Priest Associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, a member of The Prayer Book Society, Chaplain to St. John Ambulance in Cheshire and sometimes turns out for the Chester clergy cricket team. He is married to Fiona and they have two sons, James and William.

Father Andrew Burton announced his intention to take up another living in Staffordshire in December 2000. He left St. James on the 23rd January 2001. He was licensed to be responsible for the parishes of Caulton, Coldon, Grindon, Waterfall and Blore with Oakover in Staffordshire. A party of 45 parishioners from St. James went to his inaugural service.