ST MATTHEW'S - Key Persons
I have been licensed as a Lay Reader at St. Matthew's since 2010. My ministry involves preaching, teaching, some pastoral work and lots more! I am married with two grown up children. As well as serving at St. Matthew's I am also a keen lawn bowler and currently act as Club Secretary to the bowls club. I am keen on walking and archaeology, and I'm often to be found with my nose in a good book or listening to 70s prog rock bands.
I was ordained priest in 1980, and have served in Lincoln, Canterbury and Southwark Dioceses. I retired from full time ministry in 2016 and found a home at St Matthew's shortly after that. I am married to Julia and together we have four children, five grandchildren, and a dog. I qualified as a psychotherapist in 1998. Retirement has given me time to indulge in my three great hobbies: playing the guitar at two local folk clubs, painting and fishing, but I still very much enjoy preaching, celebrating the Eucharist and leading online Bible studies.
I was licensed as a Lay Reader at St Matthew's church in October 2018. Having studied at St Augustine's College of Theology before licensing. I find it a privilege to share the Word of God through preaching and teaching. During the day I work as a Nursery Nurse in the Reception class of a local primary school. I enjoy painting, craft work and travel - especially exploring places that are new to me.
In an active retirement I assist with services at St. Matthew's where I was once curate and at St. Martin's Dorking, where I live, and occasionally at other local churches. I had nearly a lifetime of working for the National Church Institutions, latterly as Clerk to the General Synod and Head of the Archbishops' Council's Central Secretariat. On my retirement, I took on the position of house for duty vicar of four villages in south-west Oxfordshire for eight years. My other voluntary commitments include being Chairman of the Trustees of St. Barnabas College Lingfield, a community mediator with the Surrey Mediation Service, a governor of the St. Martin's Dorking CofE Primary School and a (now retired) magistrate. My special interests are history, art and architecture, coins and coinage, and garden history; and I enjoy walking and cycling.
I am married to Adam and we have two school age children, and a cat called Tigger. I was ordained in September 2020 after studying Theology, Ministry and Mission at St Augustine's College of Theology. I'm a qualified youth worker and have worked in the fields of youth and community work, childcare and voluntary sector management. I also taught youth work and management at further and higher education levels. I love all kinds of music but particularly the choral tradition. My other ministry interests are spiritual direction and pastoral care. I joined YMCA East Surrey in 2018 and work full time as Head of Children and Young People. I also enjoy reading poetry and prose, and have a passion for films and the theatre. I love swimming; especially in the sea.
I am married to Alistair and we have three daughters plus our two dogs & two cats. After studying Theology at SEITE (now St Augustine's College of Theology) I was ordained in 2016 and served my curacy at St Mark's Church Reigate until 2019. After which I became part time Rector of the United Benefice of St Mary's Buckland and St Michael's Betchworth. In October 2019 I also became the Anglican Chaplain at St Bedes Ecumenical school in Redhill. My other interests include meeting regularly with my college cell group and my spiritual director, swimming, walking the dogs and riding. I enjoy being present in the community, meeting new people and listening to life stories and experiences. My passion is walking alongside people of all ages at various stages of their faith journey and witnessing their unique relationship to God deepen and evolve through various approaches to personal and public worship. It is a privilege and an honour to be serving the community of Redhill.