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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 30 April 2019. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
A 'pop-up vicar' from the Midsomer Murders, as well as people who work tirelessly against social injustices, and provide a myriad of support to the Church were honoured in a special service at Oxford's Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday (January 27).
Six people were made Honorary Canons of the Cathedral. Canons are selected because of their work within the Diocese of Oxford and the wider church.
During the same service four people were admitted to the Order of St Frideswide. The order, named after the patron saint of Oxford, was founded in 2001 by the then Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries. It is a way of giving recognition to lay people who have given outstanding service to the Church over many years.
The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft addresses the new Lay and Honorary Canons at Christ Church during the 2017 service.
Honorary Canons
The Revd Tim Harper
I enjoy being Rector and Co-Area Dean of Amersham and a member of the Diocesan Board of Education, looking after 285 church schools.
My particular role is as SIAMS (church school) Inspector.
I am also the 'pop-up vicar' and play other small roles in the last 10 series of Midsomer Murders.
The Revd Terrie Robinson
As Director for Women in Church & Society at the Anglican Communion Office serving the world-wide Communion, Terrie works with women and men around the Communion to promote the full inclusion of women's gifts, voices and concerns in the decision-making processes of the Communion, and to encourage awareness, theological reflection and responses to gender-based injustices within and beyond our Churches.
She also collaborates with ecumenical and inter-faith coalitions, and UN and governmental bodies concerned with gender equality.
Terrie is an Associate Priest at St Luke's Maidenhead.
John Paton
John Paton hails from Devon and studied at Merton College, Oxford.
He worked in the legal office of HM Customs and Excise before training for ordination at St Stephen's House.
John served his title in Sherborne Abbey and later became the Succentor of Southwark Cathedral and a chaplain to medical students.
He was the priest of St Mark's Purley and more recently the Precentor of Oxford's Christ Church Cathedral.
He is soon to move to become the Priest in Charge of the Sulhamstead Abbots and Bannister with Ufton Nervet Benefice.
Maranda St John Nicolle
Maranda works on world mission and development for the Diocese of Oxford and is Director of Christian Concern for One World.
Both roles involve working with others, locally and globally, to provide resources for prayer and action on such topics as trade, care for the environment, corporate responsibility, and forced migration.
Jane Kennedy
Jane is an architect and partner of Purcell.
As Foundation Architect to Christ Church Catheral in Oxford her work has included conservation and planning for future development .
As architect to Newcastle Cathedral she is leading a major project to develop community use in Sacred Space. In 2017 she stepped down as architect to Ely Cathedral after 25 years and was awarded the Canterbury Cross , by the archbishop, for her outstanding contribution to the Church of England.
Dr Helen Cameron
Helen is Head of Public Affairs for The Salvation Army in the UK.
This involves fighting for greater social justice for those the organisation serves.
Prior to that she was Director of the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology at Ripon College Cuddesdson.
She has written on practical theology and mission.
Order of St Frideswide
Charles Baker
Charles lives in Chalgrove, South Oxfordshire, where he has recently been the project leader for a major refurbishment of St Mary's Church.
For five years he has been the Chairman of the Diocesan Advisory Committee retiring in December 2017.
Prior to that he was the chairman of Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.
Gordon Gill
Gordon Gill is an accountant who worked in management consultancy, mainly on Francophone African projects for the World Bank, ending his working career as the Secretary General of a major trade association.
He became the treasurer of the Stone parish in the early 1970s.
In the 1980s he became the vice chairman of Bishop's Council.
He twice served as acting chairman, creating the planning and budget subcommittee.
Gordon later joined the Glebe Committee where he enjoyed contributing to its activities during more than a decade of hectic development and investment activity.
Jeremy Twynam
Jeremy Twynam is a member of the Diocesan Glebe Committee and a Diocesan Director of the Faringdon Academy of Schools.
Until 2017 he was Lay Chairman of the Vale of White Horse Deanery Synod and is a former member of the Diocesan Synod.
A past chairman of Shellingford CE School which successfully appealed to the Secretary of State against closure.
Now rated Oustanding by Ofsted.
He previously served as director or trustee of various companies and charities.
Gordon Gill
I was born in Bampton, Oxfordshire.
I spent 35 years working on global brand communications before a short spell at Bible Reading Fellowship before joining the Reading based Prospects - a Christian charity for people with learning disabilities.
In 2016 Prospects merged with Livability.
My role as Head of Church Giving has been to help steer the integration of the church ministry. I have been Lay Chair of Wallingford Deanery for seven years and a member of the Diocesan Synod for six years.