High Sheriffs may appoint a Chaplain to attend on them and assist on matters of faith. The Chaplain will principally be involved with the church services for the judiciary that are arranged by the High Sheriff conventionally annually but may also participate in the High Sheriff’s year on other occasions, for example the Declaration Ceremony that follows the High Sheriff’s appointment by the Monarch. The Chaplain may also play a valuable role as adviser to the High Sheriff on inter-faith matters in the community. The Reverend Will Adams is a recognised and popular figure within the Northamptonshire community. Ordained at Peterborough Cathedral as deacon in 2000 and as priest in 2001, Will served as curate in the Astwell Benefice, comprising six rural parishes set within southwest Northamptonshire, and was appointed Rector in 2005, a position he greatly valued and enjoyed for many years. From 2001, Will has held the chaplaincy of the Brackley branch of Livability, a Christian based charity evolved from the Shaftesbury Society, enabling people with disabilities to live a life they want to live. This is a role he continues today. He was recognised with the award of Outstanding Support by the Princess Royal in 2016. From 2014 to 2021, Will was Chair and Director of the local branch of the Samaritans. This was followed by working during the pandemic on a dedicated help line for NHS staff and care home workers. Will has deep and longstanding experience of education and its evolving landscape. A major part of Will’s early life was that of teaching mathematics in large secondary comprehensive schools. He moved from Aylesbury to Oxford with his appointment as Deputy Head at Roade School in Northamptonshire, which was followed by his appointment as Head of the school. Will worked at Roade School from 1982 to 2004. The school enjoyed outstanding Ofsted assessments. Will enjoyed the role of Governor of the University of Northampton from 2004 to 2013. He served on a variety of committees culminating in the appointment of Deputy Chair from 2010 to 2013 and was admitted as an Honorary Fellow in July 2015. As an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Will was asked to become chair of governors of a Church of England school, part of a trust sponsored by the RSA, with a view to improve the school’s performance. He was closely involved with the governors of the school and the Diocese of Worcester and enjoyed seeing the school flourish. He remains in contact with both the diocese and the school.
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