People News
January 2020
The Venerable Jonathan Smith, Archdeacon of St Albans has retired and become Archdeacon Emeritus
Dr Jane Mainwaring, Team Vicar of Hitchin and St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry, Honorary Canon of St Albans Cathedral and Rural Dean of Hitchin to be Archdeacon of St Albans
Dr Quentin Chandler, Rector of Marston Moreteyne with Lidlington and DDO, to be DDO in the Diocese of Oxford
Amanda Ferris, Spiritual Care Co-ordinator at Garden House Hospice, to be also Associate Vicar (part-time 2 days/week) at All Saints Church, Willian
Lizzie Hood to step down as Area Dean, Hemel Hempstead and to continue as Team Rector, Langeli Team Ministry
Michael Leverton, PtO, to be Canon Emeritus
Joseph Pienaar, Vicar of St Hugh’s Lewsey, Luton, to be Church Planter, North Vancouver for the Anglican Network in Canada
Nigel Richards, Vicar of All Saints Dedworth in the Diocese of Oxford, to be Priest in Charge of Streatley
David Shepherd, Vicar of Oxhey, St Matthew to retire in August 2020
Michael Trodden, PtO, to be Canon Emeritus
Simon Vivian, Curate in Berkhamstead Team Ministry, to be Vicar of Sawbridgeworth
December 2019
Robert Donald, Licenced Clergy – Public Preacher in the St Albans Deanery, instead to hold Permission to Officiate
Sarah Hayes, Vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Horsell in the Diocese of Guildford also to hold Public Preacher’s Licence in the Diocese of St Albans (UK Waterways Chaplain)
Heidi Huntley, Vicar of Royston also to be Assistant Rural Dean of Buntingford
Didier Jaquet, Associate Minister (SSM) in Tring Team Ministry to be Assistant Priest (SSM) at Winslow (St Laurence) with Great Horwood and Addington in the Diocese of Oxford.
Ruth Pyke, Rector, Benefice of Barkway, Barley, Reed and Buckland also to be Rural Dean of Buntingford
Fiona Souter, Assistant Curate SSM (and Assistant University Chaplain at the University of Hertfordshire) to be University Chaplain, University of Hertfordshire
Andy Thomas, Associate Minister, Holy Trinity, Stevenage also to be Rural Dean of Stevenage
Stephen Tudway, Assistant Curate (SSM) at Flamstead & Markyate Street to be Curate-in-Charge at the Benefice of Broughton & Duddon and the Benefice of Kirby Ireleth in the Diocese of Carlisle
Gill Webb, Assistant Priest (SSM) at Marston Moreteyne with Lidlington instead to hold Permission to Officiate
We learned with sadness of the death of Mr Richard White in November 2019, Reader in the benefice of Riseley with Bletsoe.
October 2019
Ian Smith Assistant Curate in training at Silsoe, Pulloxhill, Flitton (self-supporting) to be part-time Priest in Charge at Renhold
Katie Franks Assitant Curate in Training at Eaton Socon to be Assistant Curate in Training at Cople, Moggerhanger and Willington
Valmor Pimenta, Vicar of St Martin’s Bedford, to be Vicar of St Joseph the Worker, Northolt, Diocese of London
Ian Smith Assistant Curate in training at Silsoe, Pulloxhill and Flitton (self-supporting) to be part-time Minister in Charge of Renhold (self-supporting)
Claire Towns Vicar of Swanmore and Associate DDO, Diocese of Portsmouth to be part-time Vicar of Sandridge and part-time Deputy Diocesan Director of Ordinands
We learned with great sadness of the death of Revd Gerald (Gerry) Booker on 10th September 2019, Rector of Bramfield with Stapleford and Waterford 1983-1996; also University Chaplain 1990-1996; who retired with Permission to Officiate from 1996.
September 2019
Dan Drew, Assistant Curate (Hitchin & St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry) & Pioneer Minister (The Hub Church, Hitchin) to be Lead Pastor, H30 Church, Dee Why, Australia
John Fidler, currently Associate Minister (SSM) in the benefice of Royston to receive Permission to Officiate in the benefice of Royston.
Fizz Gibbs, currently Associate Priest (SSM) in Hitchin & St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry to receive Permission to Officiate in Hitchin & St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry
Stephen Holroyd, Priest-in-Charge of Stodden Churches to be Rector on the end of suspension of the patron’s right of presentation
The Venerable Paul Hughes, retired Archdeacon of Bedford to be Archdeacon Emeritus
Vanessa Kerswill, currently Assistant Curate at Abbots Langley serving predominantly at Soul Survivor Watford to be on secondment as Assistant Curate at Abbots Langley serving predominantly at Watford St Peter
Paolo Di Leo, Assistant Curate in Training (SSM) at Streatley to be Rector of Sharnbrook, Felmersham and Knotting with Souldrop
Suzette and David Maguire to leave their job share as Lay Pioneer Ministers for Great Denham and West Kempston (Bishop’s Mission Order). Suzette Maguire to be Pioneer Minister at Solihull Parish, Diocese of Birmingham
Michael Norman, Rector of Bath St Saviour with Swainswick & Woolley, Diocese of Bath & Wells to be Vicar of Watford, St Luke
Tim Pilkington, Team Rector of Berkhamsted Team Ministry to retire in February 2020
Adrian Smith, Assistant Curate (SSM) at Watford, St Luke to be Priest-in-Charge at Woodhouse and Wrangthorn and Associate Rector (Team Vicar) at St George’s Leeds, Diocese of Leeds
We learned with great sadness of the following deaths:
- Canon (Emeritus) David Cheetham, Diocesan Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Adviser from 1978 to 2011, on 5th September
- Mrs Sue Pankhurst, Reader at Christ Church Watford and Deanery Adviser for Readers in Watford, on 10th September
July 2019
Chris Briggs, Chaplain of Haileybury to be Chaplain of Shiplake College, Diocese of Oxford
Christopher Bunce, Rural Dean & Rector of Stevenage, St Andrew & St George to be Team Rector, Hitchin and St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry (with special responsibility for St Marys Hitchin)
Anne Donaldson, Vicar of Great Amwell w St Margarets & Stanstead Abbots to retire in October 2019
Sally Dryden, Associate Vicar of Golders Green Parish Church to be Team Vicar in Hertford Team Ministry (with special responsibility for Holy Trinity, Little Amwell)
Stephen Fielding, Associate Vicar of St Mary Abbots Church Kensington, Diocese of London to be Team Vicar of Hitchin & St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry (with special responsibility for St Paul’s Walden with Preston)
Malcolm Finlay, Associate Rector of Broxbourne with Wormley (locally supported minister) to be Church Planter and Assistant Curate in Harrow Deanery, Diocese of London
Dean Henley, Rector of Campton, Clophill and Haynes to retire to the Diocese of Lincoln in November 2019
Mike Jones, currently Vicar of St Mary’s Luton and Priest-in-Charge of St Matthew’s Luton and St Paul’s, Luton to step down as Priest-in-Charge St Paul’s, Luton and continue as Vicar of St Mary’s Luton and Priest-in-Charge of St Matthew’s Luton
Averil Lauckner, Vicar of Hatfield Hyde, St Mary Magdalene to retire in October 2019
Kate Lomax, currently Associate Vicar of St Paul’s, Luton to be Priest-in-Charge of St Paul’s, Luton
Kate McFarlane, currently Assistant Curate in Training (SSM) at Marston Morteyne, to be Assistant Curate in Training (Stipendiary) at Marston Morteyne
Annie McTighe, currently Pioneer Minister for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been appointed Fresh Expressions Development Officer for St Albans Archdeaconry
Harry Steele, currently part-time Bishop’s Interim Minister in the Diocese of Sheffield and Associate Director with ‘Leading your Church into Growth’ to be part-time Church Growth Officer (Hertfordshire) and to continue as Associate Director with ‘Leading your Church into Growth’
Martin Bishop retired as Financial Secretary to the diocese in June after nearly 20 years’ service, celebrated with staff and guests over tea where the Diocesan Secretary paid tribute to his long, selfless and dedicated service, motivated by his Christian faith and desire to use his professional skills in the Church’s service. Martin is moving to a role as Finance Manager with a charity based nearer to his home in Buckinghamshire. The charity, Medical Detection Dogs, which uses the power of the dog’s nose to detect human diseases. Dogs have the ability to detect minute odour traces created by diseases. As well as sharing his enthusiasm for this work at his farewell, he also spoke about his passion for ‘Parkrun’ and the benefits it brings.
Tony Boon, Accounts Manager, celebrated 25 years dedicated service to the Diocese. The Diocesan Board of Finance paid tribute to him at a recent meeting and presented him with a gift to mark the occasion. Colleagues also made sure he was reminded of the anniversary, as pictured!
June 2019
Glyn Barker has been appointed to the post of Director of Finance at the Diocesan Office and will be taking up his post on 27th August.
Kaushal David, Priest-in-Charge of Totternhoe, Stanbridge and Tilsworth to be Incumbent (Vicar) of the same
Barry Pate, Vicar of Wilbury is to retire in August 2019
Rachel Phillips, Residentiary Canon at Rochester Cathedral to be Team Rector of Dunstable Team Ministry
Tim Vickers, Assistant Curate at Redbourn to be Associate Priest at Bushey
Timothy Wilson, Priest-in-Charge of Wilden with Colmworth and Ravensden (part-time interim post) to be also Priest-in-Charge of Bolnhurst with Keysoe (part-time interim appointment made under Regulation 29 (7B) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009)). Both posts until 22 January 2021.
Ruth Barr, Assistant Curate at Stopsley to be Team Vicar in Bishop’s Hatfield Team Ministry (with special ministerial responsibility for St Mary’s North Mymms)
Helen Bryan, Rector of East and West Horndon w. Little Warley and Childerditch, Diocese of Chelmsford, to be Team Vicar in Cheshunt Team Ministry (with special ministerial responsibility for St Clement’s, Turnford)
Andy Gardner, Assistant Curate at Luton St Mary to be Team Vicar in Bishop’s Hatfield Team Ministry (with special ministerial responsibility for St John’s Hatfield)
David Jones, Assistant Curate at All Saints, Croxley Green to be Vicar of St John the Baptist Church (Eden Park), Beckenham, Diocese of Rochester
Caroline Keightley, Assistant Curate at Christ Church, Ware to be Vicar of St Mark’s, Colney Heath
Joseph Roberts, Assistant Curate at St Leonard’s, Marston Green, Diocese of Birmingham, to be Team Vicar in Berkhamsted Team MInistry (with special ministerial responsibility for Holy Trinity Potten End) and Director for Schools Ministry (Associate Priest) for St Peter’s Berkhamsted
David Willink to be Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese of St Albans
We learned with sorrow of the following deaths:
- The Revd Jonathan Jasper in August 2018. Curate: Cheshunt, St Mary the Virgin 1973-1975; Curate: Bedford, St Paul and St Peter de Merton with St Cuthbert 1975-1977; Priest-in-charge, then Rector: Barkway, Reed and Buckland with Barley 2012-2014, retired to Chelmsford diocese.
- Gerald Randall, Reader Emeritus in the benefice of Christ Church, St Albans in May 2019
May 2019
Alec Corio, Assistant Curate St George’s, Stockport with St Gabriel’s, Adswood to be Rector of East Barnet
David Kesterton, Vicar of Luton, All Saints with St Peter to be also Area Dean of Luton
Nicola Lenthall, Rector of the Benefice of Kensworth, Studham and Whipsnade to be also Rural Dean of Dunstable
Jonathan Lloyd, Assistant Curate of Jarrow and Simonside (South Shields), Diocese of Durham, to be Minor Canon – Precentor of Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Timothy Madeley, Assistant Curate, Ingleborough Team Ministry, Diocese of Leeds, to be Vicar of Christchurch, Bushmead
Belinda Searle-Barnes with Permission to Officiate in St Albans Diocese to be also SSM Officer (Bedford Archdeaconry)
Gillian Smith, Rector of Potton with Sutton and Cockayne Hatley to retire in August 2019 to the Diocese of Norwich
Michael Trodden, Rector of Ampthill with Millbrook and Steppingley to retire in October 2019 to the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Richard Watson, Vicar of St Saviour, St Albans to be also Chair, Diocesan Worship and Liturgical Committee
April 2019
Dave Bell, Vicar of Silsoe, Pulloxhill and Flitton to retire in September
Em Coley, National Young Vocations Officer and Panel Secretary for the Archbishop’s Council to be also Associate Minister of St Albans, St Peter (self-supporting)
Chris Cottee, Vicar of Watford, St Peter to retire in July
Tony Halton, with Permission to Officiate in St Albans Diocese to be Assistant Priest at St Albans, St Saviour (self-supporting)
Eugene Hanshaw, Assistant Curate in Chipping Barnet Team Ministry to be Team Vicar in Cheshunt Team Ministry (with special responsibility for St Mary’s Cheshunt)
Cate Irvine, Co-ordinating Chaplain at Royal Holloway College, University of London, Diocese of Guildford, to be Team Rector of the Ouzel Valley Team Ministry and Vicar of All Saints Leighton Buzzard
Lesley Jones, currently PtO to be also SSM Officer for Bedford Archdeaconry
Mary Kingsley, Associate Minister in Bushey to retire in May
Michael Leverton, Rector of Ardeley, Benington, Cottered with Throcking and Walkern and Rural Dean of Buntingford Deanery to retire in November
Theresa Musiwacho, Assistant Curate in Royston to be Rector of Little Berkhamsted and Bayford, Essendon and Ponsbourne
Pete Orton, Priest-in-Charge (Sacramental Pioneer Priest) Stevenage, All Saints, Pin Green to be Vicar on the end of suspension of the patron’s right of presentation
Gordon Shrosbree has been appointed as IT Officer in the Diocesan Office
Hugh Symes-Thompson, Rector of Cranfield and Hulcote with Salford to retire to the Diocese of Truro
Linda Williams, Associate Vicar of Harpenden (part-time) to be Priest-in-Charge of Kimpton with Ayot St Lawrence (part-time)
Extension to time limited interim posts in accordance with Regulation 29 (1)(e) and Regulation 29 (5) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009
- Wendy Carter to 31 May 2020 as Interim Priest-in-Charge of High Wych and Gilston with Eastwick
- Roger Chapman to 30 June 2019 as Interim Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s Cheshunt
We learned with sorrow of the following deaths:
- Rt Revd Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford from 2003 to 2012, on 14th April 2019, Palm Sunday. Click here for details of a Memorial Service
- Arthur Brignall, Reader PTO in the benefice of Barkway, Barley, Reed and Buckland, in April 2019.
March 2019
Shaun Atkins recently Chaplain to Bedford School, to be Associate Minister (SSM) at Wootton
Lydia Becket has been appointed part-time Accounts Assistant in the Diocesan Office
Sam Cappleman Associate Minister (SSM) at St Mark’s Church, Bedford and Assistant Rural Dean of Bedford, to be also Chaplain to the Bishop of Bedford
Quentin Chandler, Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Rector of Marston Moreteyne with Lidlington, to be also Honorary Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Gemma Foster, Public Preacher in the St Albans Diocese to be Priest-in-Charge and Rector Designate of Cove, Diocese of Guildford
Jonathan Gordon, Rural Dean of Berkhamsted and Rector of Northchurch with Wigginton, to be also Honorary Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Jane Mainwaring, Rural Dean of Hitchin and Team Vicar, Hitchin and St Paul’s Walden Team Ministry, to be also Honorary Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Miriam Mugan, Vicar of All Saints, Croxley Green, to be also Honorary Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Rickey Simpson-Gray, Associate Minister (SSM) in the Hemel Hempstead Team Ministry to be Team Vicar, Claydons and Swan Team Ministry, Diocese of Oxford
We learned with sorrow of the death of John Bagworth, Reader Emeritus, on 1st December 2018
February 2019
John Chitham, currently Chaplain to the Bishop of Blackburn, Diocese of Blackburn, to be Rector of Standon and the Mundens with Sacombe
Alec Corio, currently Assistant Curate at St George’s, Stockport with St Gabriel’s, Adswood, Diocese of Chester, to be Rector of East Barnet
Gemma Foster, currently Assistant Curate at Letchworth St Paul with Willian to be Public Preacher (SSM)
James McDonald, currently Associate Minister, York City Centre Churches to be Team Vicar, Langelei Team Ministry (with special responsibility for All Saints Kings Langley)
We learned with sorrow of the following death:
- Deaconess Anne Haines, formerly Deaconess (full-time) at Holy Trinity Church, Stevenage 1977-1979, on 6th January 2019
January 2019
Revd Frances Arnold, Vicar of Sawbridgeworth to be Priest-in-Charge (Rector Designate) of Sutton, St Nicholas, Diocese of Southwark
Colin Bird to be Chair of the St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF)
Revd Timothy Wilson, currently PtO to be interim Priest-in-Charge (part-time, 2 year appointment) of Wilden with Colmworth and Ravensden
Revd Dr Berkeley Zych, currently Minor Canon (Precentor) of St Albans Abbey to be Vicar of Harpenden St John
December 2018
Matthew Chinery, Diocesan Registrar to be Head of Legal Services to the Representative Body of the Church in Wales
Emma (Em) Coley, Vicar of Sandridge and Associate Diocesan Director of Ordinands to be Young Vocations Officer, Church of England Ministry Division
Lyndsey de Mestre QC, Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese of St Albans to be Chancellor of the Diocese of St Albans
Lucas Durant, Assistant Curate in Training at Wootton has completed his curacy
Ruth Goatly, currently PtO to be Associate Minister (SSM) at Boxmoor
Christine Hina, Team Vicar of Elstree and Borehamwood Team Ministry to retire
Patricia Jones, Team Vicar of Thatcham, Diocese of Oxford, to be Vicar of London Colney, St Peter
Lynda Klimas, Rector of the Benefice of Maulden to be also Rural Dean of Ampthill & Shefford
David Middlebrook, Vicar of Watford, St Luke and Honorary Canon of St Albans Cathedral to be Archdeacon of Bedford
Chris Orme, Rector of Thorley to retire
Kimberley Quak-Winslow, Assistant Curate of Sutton, Wincle, Bosley and Wildboarclough, Diocese of Chester to be Minor Canon – Youth Chaplain (Curate), Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Steven Wood, Vicar of Streatley to be Priest in Charge for The Burnhams Benefice, Diocese of Norwich
We learned with sorrow of the following death:
- The Revd John Moore former Rector of Aspenden (St Mary) and Layston with Buntingford and Vicarof Stanstead Abbots (St Andrew), on 12th November 2018
November 2018
Rachel Allen Chaplaincy Team Leader at East and North Herts NHS Trust to be Spiritual Care Co-ordinator at Isabel Hospice.
Martin Burrell Chaplain to Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, Licensed Clergy (Public Preacher Licence) and Member Luton Deanery Synod to retire to the Diocese of Oxford.
Roger Chapman to be Priest-in-Charge (half time) of Cheshunt, St Mary (Interim Ministry: 6 months)
Peter Crumpler to leave his post as Associate Minister (SSM) at Sandridge to be licensed as a Public Preacher (continuing as Diocesan SSM Officer for St Albans Archdeaconry)
Lucy Davis Vicar, St Peter and St Paul with St Andrew, Flitwick to be also Assistant Dean of Women’s Ministry, Diocese of St Albans
Paul Davies Senior Priest at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, Qatar, Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf to be Church Growth Officer (half-time) for Bedford Archdeaconry. Also to be Priest-in-Charge (half-time), All Saints, Bedford
Bonnie Evans-Hills Vicar of Kimpton with Ayot St Lawrence is leaving the parish.
Mary Kingsley Assistant Priest, to be Associate Minister (SSM) of Bushey (Interim Ministry: 6 months).
Robert Kozak Assistant Curate of All Saints Leavesden to be Priest-in-Charge of Letchworth.
Stephen Lyon to be Chair, Caribbean Links Group for the Diocese of St Albans
Alastair McKay Curate, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Diocese of London to be Church Growth Officer (half-time) for Hertford Archdeaconry
Lindsey Moss Associate Minister (SSM) of ChristChurch, Ware to be Associate Minister (SSM) at Caddington.
Anne Poultney Assistant Curate at Aldenham, Radlett & Shenley Team Ministry has completed her curacy.
Sharon Smith Assistant Curate in Training (SSM) at Caddington, Farley Hill to be Vicar at Christ Church, Orpington.
Anne Underwood Assistant Curate (SSM) at Bushey has completed her curacy.
We learned with sorrow of the following deaths:
- Sister Jean Harris C.A. formerly Accredited Lay Minister with Permission to Officiate, on 27th September 2018
- The Revd Adrian Hinksman formerly SSM at King’s Walden and Offley with Lilley and Diocesan Widows’ Officer, on 9th October 2018
Austin Janes Team Vicar of the Church of the Resurrection in Grovehill, Hemel Hempstead has written and illustrated a Christmas poem resource for very young children, called Spider’s First Christmas. Written in a very simple way reminiscent of Incy Wincy Spider, children can see that whatever changes come, God is travelling with us and we don’t need to be afraid.
The A6 booklet is printed in full colour and makes an ideal gift for nursery and primary school age children. The books are £1.50 each but bulk discounts are available. A power Point is also available for projecting in assemblies or services. contact Revd Austin Janes for an order form. All proceeds go towards supporting the ongoing ministry of the church in Grovehill and Woodhall Farm,
