Nine new deacons were ordained by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, at Christ Church Cathedral this summer and are now serving in our parishes. Read their biographies below; they would all appreciate your prayers as they begin their ministry in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
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1. Lesley Hay |
Joanna Collicutt McGrath
Parish: Witney Team Ministry
Joanna will be serving in Witney Team Parish. She has a background as an NHS consultant clinical neuropsychologist and now lectures in psychology of religion at Heythrop College, London University. She is married with two grown-up children.
John Dane
Parish: Deddington
John was born in London and lived in America for 20 years where he met his wife Valerie and worked as a therapist and consultant on alcoholism and addictions. He has six children. He has been training through a special course which means he is already living and working in the parish of Deddington where he will serve his title.
Lesley Hay
Parish: Shrivenham and Ashbury
Lesley comes to the ordained ministry after a career in management consultancy specialising in communications and behavioural change in organisations in many countries and cultures. She hopes that some of this will be useful in rural ministry, as she becomes stipendiary curate in Shrivenham and Ashbury Benefice. She trained at Westcott House in Cambridge and Yale Divinity School and is excited about joining the Oxford Diocese from the Edmonton Area of the Diocese of London.
Gordon Hickson
Parish: Oxford St Aldate
Gordon is an ex-army officer and worked in business before becoming involved in international church work. He was senior pastor of four churches in Hertfordshire, and ministered with the Assemblies of God for 12 years. He is already working on the staff of St Aldate’s, Oxford, where he is Associate Pastor.
Stephen Johnson
Parish: Sunningdale
Stephen will be serving his title at Holy Trinity, Sunningdale. He recently married Rachael and has greatly enjoyed his time at Wycliffe Hall. As a musician, sportsman and general enthusiast, he is looking forward to sharing his time, gifts and faith in the Oxford Diocese.
Alice Monaghan
Parish: Gerrards Cross
Alice is looking forward to joining in with what God is doing at St James’s, Gerrards Cross and Fulmer. Alice trained at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, while her husband John studied Physiotherapy. Before Ridley she worked for St Michael’s in Camden Town after studying Architecture at Edinburgh University. They have a baby son, Philip.
William Pearson-Gee
Parish: Oxford St Andrew
William is 44 years old and married to Lucia. They have two daughters aged three and the six months, and he also has a 13-year-old daughter by his late wife. He will be serving his title at St Andrew’s Church, in North Oxford.
Sarah Pix
Parish: Britwell St George
Sarah is married to Christopher. She worked as a botanist at Kew Gardens, and then for a year as a church worker before training at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. She really feels called to live and worship alongside the people of Britwell St George, and to work with the congregation to see God’s kingdom growing.
Michael Spence
Parish: Cowley
Michael is an academic lawyer who works on intellectual property and obligations theory and a consultant with the law firm Olswang. He is currently Head of the Social Sciences Division in the University of Oxford. He will serve his title at St James’s, Cowley where his wife, Beth is already in the second year of her curacy. Michael and Beth have five children and have enjoyed the move to St James’s from St Aldate’s, Oxford, where they worshipped for 17 years. Michael trained at St Stephen’s House.
Is God calling you?
The Oxford Diocese has a network of friendly Vocations Advisers who are here to help you. For an adviser near you ring Debbie Dallimore in the Diocesan Director of Ordinand’s office on 01865 208291
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