MEET THE TEAM
Brightwaters Benefice
REVD DAVID ROCHE
Vicar
David is passionate about church life and making faith relevant to local community. Married to Amy, they previously worked with Church Mission Society in Beirut, Lebanon, in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Before living in the Middle East, they were church planters in France for seven years. David is also Area Dean, and works supports Clergy across the locality. David and Amy love walks exploring Hampshire, country walks and pubs.
REVD JOHN DAWSON
Assistant Priest
John moved to Hampshire in 2019.
He was ordained in Leicester Cathedral by Bishop Tom Butler in 1995.
John's secular background is in the pharmaceutical industry, which he joined after a career in retail pharmacy with a well-known national chain of chemists.
His ministry is evangelical in outlook, and he is a great believer in ecumenical worship. His other interest is in the training of both lay and ordained personnel.
REVD MARK CHRISTIAN
Assistant Priest (Litchfield)
Padre Mark was a chaplain in the army for 17 years before he left in 2015. He served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan with a number of regiments including the Household Cavalry, the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Tank Regiment, The Corps of Royal Signals and the Royal Logistics Corps. He now lives in Litchfield and looks after St. James The Less, a church that exclusively uses the Book of Common Prayer. He is county chaplain to the Royal British Legion, chaplain to the Army Cadet Corps in Hampshire and is chaplain to the Royal Military Police Association. His wife is Yvette and he has four adult children and three grandchildren.
REVD RUSSELL SMART
Associate Priest
Russ has spent most of his adult life working for the church in one capacity or another. After studying for a degree in Applied Theology he went on to work for a church reaching out to students and young adults. He then moved on to ordination training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was ordained in 2011. He served his curacy in Romford, Essex before moving on to The Church of the Good Shepherd, Farnborough, Hampshire to become the associate minister, then vicar a few years later. He loves serving the church and helping people to explore faith. He enjoys the countryside and going for walks and exploring new places. He is also a keen motorsport fan and likes watching the Formula One races on TV and attending car shows when he can. He is married to Sarah and they have two young children.
REVD CANON DODIE MARSDEN
Assistant Priest
Dodie moved from Australia to the area at the end of the 70’s and the focus of her work has been on caring in and for the community; people of all ages. She has been very involved at the school, with children and young people. Through our deanery link with Mityana, Uganda she’s seen many young people visit along with lots of adults too. In 2019 she was made a canon of the Cathedral. Her family are in USA and Australia and the UK. She loves her bike!
REVD RICHARD SUTCLIFFE
Assistant Priest
Richard moved to St Mary Bourne when he was 12 and moved back with his late wife Swee in 2001. Richard has always been involved in church life, and was ordained in 2012. He has worked in London since he left University, and has been in Financial Regulation, working for the FCA for the past 20 years.
Richard shares his home with two fluffy dogs, Stella and Candy. He loves to sing and has always loved local theatre, although a full time job and ministry keeps him very busy. He is also studying for an MA at Winchester.
REVD NICKY SMALLWOOD
Assistant Curate
Nicky is enjoying working in the parish as a part time curate. But her main focus is working within the Family Support Team at Naomi House & Jacksplace Hospices for Children and Young Adults, as a part time chaplain. Other areas of ministry which Nicky has loved being involved with include: Anna Chaplaincy (ministry with older people) and volunteering for a charity supporting women in recovery from addictions. Previously, Nicky worked as a vet in small animal practice. She is married to Robin, and they have 3 teenage boys. In her spare time, Nicky loves singing/playing music with friends, or sitting at a potter's wheel throwing pots - but sadly the latter hasn't happened for too long!
PHILIP GEDDES
Licensed Lay Minister
During the week, Philip is a financial services tax professional who enjoys reading, walking and occasionally playing golf
CAROLYN JAY
Licensed Lay Minister
Carolyn is married to Matthew, with two teenage girls. Originally from the New Forest via Basingstoke, she has lived in Whitchurch for 18 years. Carolyn works for Hampshire County Council on a training project that helps people get into construction. In her spare time you will find her tending her raised beds in the garden, or on the sofa devouring a novel.
Admin
The Bright Waters Benefice Administration Office has opened with Mrs Vicky Jennings joining Mrs Claire Fryer as the Benefice Administration Team. The Bright Waters Benefice is an amalgamation of 5 local Parishes and 9 Churches, and effectively came into being this March. Claire has been the Parish Administrator at the Whitchurch Benefice for the last 4 years and Vicky has recently been appointed to share in the significantly increased workload managing a large Benefice requires.
Their roles are to maintain Parish diaries, maintain Parish records, be the point of contact for those wanting to arrange marriages, funerals and baptisms and most importantly assist the Benefice Clergy in meeting their duties around the Benefice,
HAZEL KAY
Licensed Lay Minister
GEORGI THOMPSON LEASK
Licensed Lay Minister in training
Georgi is originally from Yorkshire where Harrogate is an overcoat colder than Leeds! Nothing to do with the weather... Georgi moved to London a number of years ago and gradually moved further and further west until she reached Longparish in 2014.
Although still working in financial services compliance, most ‘spare’ time is taken up with theological study and the role of Churchwarden at St Nicholas' Church, Longparish.
CHRIS THEOBOLD
Licensed Lay Minister & Ordinand
Chris loves rural life in St Mary Bourne and her role as a Licensed Lay minister but is also studying for Ordination, hopefully, in 2023. She was a Clinical Physiotherapist for 44 years and is enjoying the change of pace and direction her calling is taking her. She is married to Martin and has a son and daughter and a gorgeous little granddaughter.
The ladies will be based in the Benefice office attached to the All Hallows’ Church Room. They are each scheduled to work 2 days a week for half a day, Monday to Thursday. Their contact details are listed at the front of the magazine and below. They will report to the Benefice clergy, headed by The Reverend David Roche, as the Rural Dean responsible for the Benefice and his team.
Vicky is delighted to to join the Benefice Team, she has lived in Whitchurch for a number of years and supports the Town and local community in a number of different ways including working in the St Michael’s Hospice shop in Overton. Claire has done an amazing job for the Whitchurch Benefice over the last few years and is looking forward to broadening her responsibilities across the new Benefice. We wish them both well.
All Hallows
GARETH HUMPHREYS
Churchwarden
Gareth moved to Whitchurch in 2009 and lives with Sophie, their two daughters and Bertie, the dog.
He is a recently retired solicitor and enjoys singing in both in the AH choir and the occasional Litchfield evensong choir.
NIGEL SCARFE
Churchwarden
Nigel has lived in Whitchurch since 2000 and is married to Cara with whom he has two daughters. He has been a warden at various times over the last 15 years and has seen the church and Whitchurch develop enormously in that time.
Nigel works as Executive and Non-executive director for several companies and is also the Chairman of Wessex Hearbeat, a vigorous charity that works with and supports the major cardiac unit and patients at Southampton University Hospital.
He is a keen runner, sailor and enjoys hiking with friends, family and dogs!