 In 1987 Swartz moved back to the diocese where he was born and where his father, the Revd Canon J.W.M.Swartz, had served as priest.His first posting in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman was as the rector of St John’s Mafikeng, from 1987, where he soon was appointed as Archdeacon of Mafikeng (1989 – 1992).