Bruno Boldrini, a former Italian accountant, who is now a minister-in-training in Norwich, says he ‘overjoyed’ to be serving at Bowthorpe Church.
Bruno, the son of a senior Italian banker, grew up as a Catholic and ‘knew from the age of seven that there was a call on his life to serve God in some way’ – although he rebelled in teenage years.
Bruno, who is studying at Westminster College, Cambridge, a centre of learning for the United Reformed Church, was welcomed to Bowthorpe by the resident URC minister, the Rev. Mark Elvin.
Bruno, a keen motor-cyclist and sportsman, who enjoys tennis and boxing training, is also a gold-medallist skier. He served with the Italian military before coming to the UK 20 years ago when he worked as an accountant in Manchester.
He and his wife, Victoria, have eight children and they are based at Worlingham, near Beccles. The couple first met through mutual Christian friends in Lowestoft. Victoria is a pharmacist and the daughter of a GP.
Pressures in life at the age of 34 caused Bruno to seek God in earnest, and his early call to ministry was awakened. Now, at 45, he is nearing the end of his formal training and describes himself as ‘very evangelical . . . also delighted to be serving with the ecumenical church in Bowthorpe’.
Bruno met Bowthorpe Church members at an informal café-style service on Sunday morning. The church is ‘a family of Christians’, sponsored by the Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed Churches and Church of England. The Quakers, Roman Catholics and Syrian Orthodox also use the church building regularly.
Pictured here: Bruno on his motor-cycle and also being welcomed by the Rev. Mark Elvin, right.
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