"God's Love Was Too Good to Resist": Rev. Dr. Jim Crossley's Path to Ministry
When you think of a priest, the image of a farmer’s son from North Yorkshire might not immediately come to mind. But for Rev. Dr. Jim Crossley, that’s exactly where his journey begins. A self-described hands-on type who’d rather fix something than talk about it, Jim’s transformation from a paediatrician to a priest is nothing short of remarkable.
"I didn't have a Christian background," Jim comments. "Friends introduced me to Jesus when I was 24, and I gave my life to him that summer." It wasn’t an easy road. "I was extremely resistant to undeserved grace," But as he puts it, "God's love was too good to resist."
Jim spent 26 years as a paediatrician and a decade as a Professor of Education before feeling the divine call to pastoral ministry in 2018. "It's not about whether you're gifted; it's about whether you're willing," he reflects on his calling.
His path to becoming Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church Hillsborough and Wadsley Bridge, and Oversight Minister in the Ecclesfield 2 Mission Area, was marked by rigorous discernment and study. "After 2 years’ discernment, 3 years’ study, and 3 years’ curacy—longer than medicine—I started my ministry here in July 2023."
Jim's ministry is rooted in a community that faces significant challenges. "Our parish is in the bottom 6% nationally in terms of deprivation, and includes three of Sheffield’s poorer estates," he explains. "We had our car stolen three times in the first five months."
Despite these obstacles, Jim remains hopeful. "God has already worked more powerfully than I would have dared to imagine. It’s clear to me that He loves this community, and that’s good enough for me." His wife humorously summed up their move, saying, "Because you can’t make things much worse, Jim!"
The congregation at Christ Church had dwindled to below 20, discouraged and tired. But things are changing. "One longstanding member said at our recent annual meeting, ‘I want to thank God that a church which had nearly died seems to be coming alive.’"
Jim believes in having "courageous conversations" about divisive issues. These talks haven’t led to complete unity, but they have fostered understanding and love. "Most weeks, God sends us a Christian disciple looking for a home and, even better, a spontaneous visitor with no Christian experience whom He seems to be calling. We have seen four people come to new life in Christ, and the congregation grow to around 40 on a Sunday."
Jim’s journey through theological education was equally transformative. He chose St Hild for practical reasons—part-time study options allowed him to continue supporting his family—and for principle. "I thought it would be wise to learn as part of a multi-tradition cohort," he says, appreciating the diversity it brought to his education.
His time at St Hild exceeded expectations. "I loved studying again as an adult," he says. "I loved studying the story of a God who has been at the centre of my life since I was 24." The friendships and inter-tradition learning experiences he gained there have been invaluable. "Many of these friends are now my colleagues in the Diocese of Sheffield!"
Jim’s conviction about the future of the Church of England is clear. "Inter-tradition learning is the best hope for the future of the Church of England," he asserts. "In inter-tradition learning, we learn with, about, and from one another. The prepositions matter!"
Jim Crossley’s journey from the Yorkshire fields to the heart of Sheffield’s community is a testament to his willingness to follow God’s call, no matter where it leads. As he continues to build and nurture his congregation, his story remains one of hope, resilience, and unwavering faith. "Almost everything good that’s happened is unplanned," he says with a grin. "It’s all God doing what pleases Him."
