Jamie Allen (priest)

File:Carrie jamie allen.jpg

Allen was raised in Woodbridge, Suffolk.BBC: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/01_january/27/country_parish.shtml A Country Parish]. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1999,{{cite news | title=Ordination | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NO+SERVICE+TODAY+...+We're+all+off+to+cathedral%3B+Congregation+to...-a063098692" | publisher=Coventry Evening Telegraph | date=2000-07-01}} at the age of 28, after first working as a DJ and as a Religious Education and English teacher. He was a curate for three years at St Mary's Abbey in the parish of Nuneaton, Warwickshire until 2002, when he was appointed Rector of Seend, Bulkington and Poulshot, a group of parishes in Wiltshire.

Allen and his family were the subject of an eight-part Tiger Aspect Productions British television documentary and reality television programme A Country Parish, first broadcast in 2003. This covered the family's move from Nuneaton to three traditional village parishes in Wiltshire. The series was filmed over the course of a year, and examined the life of a clergy family and the dilemmas of parish ministry. The series included themes such as:

• The re-uniting of an estranged family
• Fox hunting and Allen's decision not to bless the hounds and horses prior to the opening meet, and the community's response to this
• Loss and grief, through the story of a missing pet dog, and through deaths and funerals in the parish
• Allen's taking part in a Peace March against the backdrop of a village having many retired military personnel

The series attracted a large viewing audience and there was huge media attention and interest. In 2003 Jamie moved from Wiltshire and resumed ministry in a less-publicized location.{{cite news |title=TV vicar leaves parish |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/3187586.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-10-13 }} He served as a priest in Buckinghamshire before becoming the vicar of St Andrew's Parish in Great Cornard in late 2005.{{cite news |title=Reality TV vicar returning home |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/4439960.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-11-15 }}

In 2010, Allen moved with his wife and four children to be vicar, and then dean, of the newly consecrated Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary,{{cite book|last1=Bluck|first1=photographs by Rob Tucker ; text by John|title=Taranaki's cathedral : bringing it to birth|date=2011|publisher=Published for the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki by Anglican Taonga Publications|location=[New Plymouth, N.Z.]|isbn=9780473188085|pages=46–55}} New Plymouth, New Zealand. The cathedral was consecrated on 6 March 2010, and{{cite news | title = Cathedral Consecration | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3416262/Congregation-packed-into-every-pew | publisher=Taranaki Daily News | date=2010-03-08 }} Allen was installed as its first dean.

In 2009, Allen's second child, Carrie, had been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and surgery to remove the lump in her arm. The family moved to New Zealand just as Carrie completed this treatment, and for some time the cancer was in remission, but it returned metastatically in 2011. In 2012, a fundraising concert (called "Carrie's Concert") {{cite news | title = fundraising concert | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/7334723/Carrie-calls-up-a-class-act-for-her-cancer-concert | publisher=Taranaki Daily News | date=2012-07-24 }} was held at Taranaki Cathedral hosted by Carrie, where Dave Dobbyn performed and over $8,000 was raised to benefit the Child Cancer Foundation and CanTeen.

Carrie died on 15 September 2012.{{cite news|last1=Radio New Zealand|first1=National|title=The Life of Carrie Allen - Radio Broadcast|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2533151/the-life-of-carrie-allen|accessdate=7 January 2016|date=2013-06-25|ref=2533151}}{{cite news|last1=Jo|first1=Moir|title=Dean's daughter dies after three year battle|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/7689726/Deans-daughter-dies-after-three-year-battle|accessdate=2016-01-07|work=Taranaki Daily News|agency=Fairfax Media|ref=7689726}} As her father was the serving dean at the cathedral, permission was granted for the closed churchyard to be re-opened for her burial.{{cite news|last1=Jo|first1=Moir|title=Cathedral burial for girl|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/7694795/Taranaki-cathedral-burial-for-girl|accessdate=7 January 2016|agency=Taranaki Daily News|publisher=Fairmax Media|date=2012-09-18|ref=7694795}}

From 2009 to 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/76099930/the-public-face-of-faith-taranaki-cathedrals-dean-jamie-allen|title=The public face of faith: Taranaki Cathedral's Dean Jamie Allen|website=Stuff|date=22 January 2016 |access-date=2017-06-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/78754231/dean-jamie-allen-gives-his-last-sermon-at-the-taranaki-cathedral-church-of-st-mary|title=Dean Jamie Allen gives his last sermon at the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary|website=Stuff|date=10 April 2016 |access-date=2017-06-09}} Allen served as Dean of Taranaki Cathedral. Events during his incumbency included:

• Establishing the parish church as a cathedral. This was expressed through the weaving of an altar frontal to peace,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/north-taranaki-midweek/20110601/281595237132846|title=Many hands make peace with past|via=PressReader|access-date=2017-06-09}} all sewn by visitors, and depicting the 39 communities of the region (around which he did a pilgrimage with a local museum curator){{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8689423/The-Taranaki-Pilgrimage|title=The Taranaki Pilgrimage|date=2013-05-25|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-06-09|language=English}}
• Reading the entire Bible aloud (with only 5 minute breaks) as a fundraiser{{Citation|last=StuffNewss|title=St Mary s Cathedral s Dean Jamie Allen began an epic Bible reading marathon at 7.30am|date=2013-01-23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arLWEMPL6jU|accessdate=2017-06-09}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1102/S00347/cathedral-stages-live-read-a-thon-in-anniversary-celebration.htm|title=Cathedral Stages Live Read-a-Thon in Anniversary Celebration {{!}} Scoop News|website=www.scoop.co.nz|access-date=2017-06-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://test.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2011/13-may/news/uk/a-long-long-wait-for-jesus|title=A long, long wait for Jesus|website=test.churchtimes.co.uk|access-date=2017-06-09}}
• The relocation of historic hatchments{{Cite web|url=http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/war_memorials_taranaki_wars/topics/show/1784-military-hatchments-st-marys-cathedral|title=Military Hatchments - St Mary's Cathedral|last=Ron|website=ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info|language=en|access-date=2017-06-09}} from the walls of the cathedral; war emblems which were a cause of pain to Māori and many others{{Cite book|title=Pursuing peace in Godzone : Christianity and the peace tradition|others=Troughton, Geoffrey, 1972-, Fountain, Philip|isbn=9781776561827|location=Wellington|oclc=1028087006|year = 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/Tikanga-Pakeha/healing|title=Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader|last=Quiqcorp|website=www.anglicantaonga.org.nz|access-date=2017-06-09}}
• The establishment of a Garden of Remembrance featuring large emblems of Peace from the Māori community of Parihaka{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/lifestyle/8367988/A-garden-built-by-kindness|title=A garden built by kindness|last=Foy|first=Sarah|date=2013-03-01|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-06-09|language=English}}
• The restoration of many graves in the historic churchyard,{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8691981/Citys-history-in-danger-of-crumbling|title=City's history in danger of crumbling|last=Ewing|first=Isobel|date=2013-05-20|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=2017-06-09|language=English}} and the installation of floodlighting to light the cathedral (in colour, according to the season) by night{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/north-taranaki-midweek/20140416/281642483158328/textview |title=Easter a time of golden lights |date=16 April 2014|via=PressReader|access-date=2017-06-09}}
• Forming a link between Taranaki Cathedral and Coventry Cathedral, through becoming a member of the international community of the Cross of Nails{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/66777947/its-not-a-quick-fix-its-a-journey|title='It's not a quick fix, it's a journey'|website=Stuff|date=27 February 2015 |access-date=2017-06-09}}
• The closure of the cathedral and relocation of activities to the hall, following a report on the structural integrity of the building{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/76427168/taranaki-cathedrals-emotional-last-service-before-closing-for-earthquake-strengthening|title=Taranaki Cathedral's emotional last service before closing for earthquake strengthening|website=Stuff|date=31 January 2016 |access-date=2017-06-09}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/285947/'national-treasure'-closes-for-strengthening|title='National treasure' closes for strengthening|date=2015-10-03|work=Radio New Zealand|access-date=2017-06-09|language=en-nz}}

In July 2014, prompted by the loss of their daughter, the Allens decided to sell their family home{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/10266244/Daughter-inspires-familys-vision|title=Daughter inspires family's vision|website=Stuff|date=14 July 2014 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} and use the funds to establish a charitable trust which would offer a place for people to stay when going through tragedy, with the specific aim of suicide prevention. This was inspired by Allen's experience of pastoral work with families who had lost a member to suicide when there was nowhere to turn to for support.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/93879451/mother-took-her-life-waiting-for-help-community-mental-health-meeting-hears|title=Mother took her life waiting for help, community mental health meeting hears|website=Stuff|date=20 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} The build of the facility was funded by the Allens' donation, by local businesses,{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/84914384/taranaki-retreat-hopes-to-change-culture-around-suicide|title=Taranaki Retreat hopes to change culture around suicide|website=Stuff|date=4 October 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} people in the community who had been affected by suicide, and through grants.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/inspire-me/90176211/taranaki-retreat-a-pathway-out-of-the-darkness|title=Taranaki Retreat: a pathway out of the darkness|website=Stuff|date=9 March 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}}

The facility opened in March 2017{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/90325082/taranakis-first-suicide-support-retreat-is-open|title=Taranaki's first suicide support retreat is open|website=Stuff|date=12 March 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} and offers free breaks{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/94169240/retreat-reaching-south-taranaki|title=Retreat reaching South Taranaki|website=Stuff|date=3 July 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} (or support at home) for people dealing with tragedy{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/taranaki-daily-news/20170422/281638190086046|title=Retreat is good idea, mum says|via=PressReader|access-date=2018-04-07}} or where people are dealing with suicidal thoughts. The Allen family were nominated{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/lifestyle/99588775/jamie-allen--family-tragedy-inspired-a-way-of-helping-others|title=Jamie Allen - Family tragedy inspired a way of helping others|website=Stuff|date=26 December 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} and chosen{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/100215930/jamie-allen--taranaki-daily-news-person-of-the-year-2017|title=Jamie Allen - Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year 2017|website=Stuff|date=31 December 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} as Taranaki Daily News Person of the year 2017 for their work on Taranaki Retreat.

During 2021, a Community Drop-In Support Hub{{Cite web |last=Mcilraith |first=Brianna |date=2021-06-21 |title=Taranaki Retreat expanding its service into New Plymouth's Metro Plaza |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/125449647/taranaki-retreat-expanding-its-service-into-new-plymouths-metro-plaza |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} was established in Taranaki by Allen and the Taranaki Retreat Team, to operate alongside the Residential Support Centre. The name Waimanako/The Waters of Hope was gifted to the premises - which are sponsored by New Plymouth District Council.{{Cite web |last=Matthews |first=Jane |date=2021-12-09 |title='Pay what you feel' charity chill out space opening in New Plymouth CBD |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/127220505/pay-what-you-feel-charity-chill-out-space-opening-in-new-plymouth-cbd |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} The facility includes support rooms, a Creative Hub and a Koha Cafe, where people can eat for free or for a donation. The facility operates from 10am-9pm daily except Sundays. The cafe offers a peer-listening services for people experiencing distress, or concerned for someone. "Listening Ears" can simply be added to an order for food. There are regular support groups,{{Cite web |last=Matthews |first=Jane |date=2021-10-24 |title=Running towards recovery: New group formed to help Taranaki people struggling with addiction, mental health worries |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/126779172/running-towards-recovery-new-group-formed-to-help-taranaki-people-struggling-with-addiction-mental-health-worries |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} workshops and one-on-one peer support and therapy available.

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{{Deans of Taranaki}}

{{Province of New Zealand}}

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Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century English Anglican priests

Category:People from Woodbridge, Suffolk

Category:Deans of Taranaki

Category:People related to suicide prevention

Category:Charity fundraisers (people)