At 11am on Saturday 1 July, seventeen people will be ordained as priests to serve in Southwark Diocese. Find out more about our new priests below – please pray for them and the communities where they are serving their curacies.
Croydon Episcopal Area
The following are to be ordained Priest by the Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, at Holy Trinity, Redhill:
Mo Budd
Mo was born and raised in Herefordshire and mid-Wales, and has since lived in too many places to count before settling in south London. Among other occupations, she has worked as a blacksmith, a tepee erector, a forklift driver and a verger. She is passionate about social justice and has a background in trade union organising. Mo is currently serving as a Pioneer curate in the parish of St Mary, Addington, where she is enjoying discovering what God is up to in that place, and excited to take part in God’s mission of love to a complex and diverse community. Mo lives with her partner, Jacken, and love to hike, make things, and go to stupidly loud gigs.
Rob Hindmarsh
Rob was born in Manchester and trained as a classical violinist before moving to London and changing careers to work in the local Government youth justice sector for 15 years. He is married with two daughters. Rob enjoys the great outdoors – cycling, walking, and camping – as well as eating his favourite food; spicy Malaysian cuisine.
Sarah-Louise Schofield
Sarah-Louise was born and brought up in Reigate. Having moved to Cheltenham to study and work, she came to London to work as a development manager for Sports Leaders UK. She met her husband, Pete (also from Reigate) while she was working at St Mark’s, Battersea Rise. They moved to Hertfordshire for Sarah-Louise to work as a course leader for All Nations Christian College and Christians in Sport, returning to Surrey (Redhill) to bring up their three children. Sarah-Louise is serving her curacy at Holy Trinity, Redhill having trained at St Mellitus College, she has a PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog, Evie and is most happy out of doors, playing sport and searching out open water to swim in.
Mel Wynn
Mel is from a small mining village in North Wales and has lived in Swansea, Canada, Bristol and London. She has led several small businesses and is currently Principal Consultant for LivePerson (a global software company)/. Her work pattern is 4 days for LivePerson and 2 days working as Curate at Springfield Church in Wallington . Mel loves travelling and seeing new places and spending time with people. Her first year at Springfield Church has been a joyful adventure with God and a wonderful community and she is excited for next chapter.
Kingston Episcopal Area
The following are to be ordained Priest by the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Revd Dr Martin Gainsborough, at All Saints, Kingston upon Thames:
Georgia Ashwell
Georgia was born in Croydon and brought up in South East London, until her mid-teens when she moved to Poole, Dorset, with her family. A decade later, she moved back to South East London with her husband, Stephen. Her years by the coast
have given Georgia a great love for the sea and the outdoors, and you can often find her cycling or walking in the countryside, or windsurfing, sailing or swimming. Her employment history covers everything from restaurant and retail work to caring and the charity sector before working for a church which then led her to ordination. Georgia is serving her curacy with the parish of St John with St Andrew, Waterloo.
Jen Houghton
Jen grew up in Birmingham before studying Theology and Religious Studies at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. She stayed at Cambridge for her Master’s degree (also in Theology) and then moved to London nearly 20 years ago to work in the charity sector in fundraising, volunteer management and alumni relations. She is married to Pete, and they have three children and a naughty dog. Jen’s favourite things are enjoying delicious food with family and friends (ideally not cooked by her!), reading a great murder-mystery and going to see a musical. Jen is serving her curacy with the parish of St Andrew, Ham.
Stephen Jullien
Stephen was born in Manchester, spent time as a toddler in Portugal, then grew up in Hertfordshire. He gained a degree in Modern Languages at Durham, during which he spent a year abroad teaching English in France and Germany. He
began discerning the call to ordination as a Pastoral Assistant in London, then taught English in Barcelona before starting his training at Ridley Hall. Steve is a keen musician and singer and has started to write his own music. He likes to keep active and ran his first half marathon this year. Stephen is serving his curacy with Christ Church, Brixton Road, and Holy Trinity with St Matthew, Southwark.
Janice Price
Janice is curate in the parish of St Andrew and St Mark Surbiton and a Chaplain at Kingston Hospital. Previously she was World Mission Adviser for the Archbishops’ Council of the CofE and has had long experience in the Church working in mission enabling and education. She was licensed and admitted as a Reader in Southwark Cathedral in 1988 and has since worked in urban, suburban and rural parishes in Southwark and Worcester Dioceses. Janice holds a BA in Humanities, an MA in Theology and Education and an MSc in Theological and Ministerial Research.
Sam Parker
Sam was born in Israel but moved to Nottinghamshire in the UK at the age of three. Having served in several churches as a worship pastor, Sam went on to gain his undergraduate degree in Theology, Ministry and Mission at St Mellitus College in London, before returning there to begin his postgraduate studies in Christian Leadership. He is married and the proud father of a young son. He enjoys days out with his family and friends and can often be found exploring the zoo or the farm with his son. Sam is also passionate about music. Sam is serving his curacy with the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Wandsworth Common.
Felix Stevenson
Felix was born in Newcastle and lived in various countries abroad while growing up. He studied Sociology at Durham University, considered a career in acting, worked for an MP in the House of Commons, and spent five years helping to plant a church in South West London. He is married with one child. Felix loves sport, theatre and seeing all people flourish as God’s image-bearers. Felix is serving his curacy with the parish of Holy Trinity, Clapham.
Ed Veale
Ed was brought up in Bath and studied History at York. He then trained as a solicitor, specialising in homelessness, social housing and public law; he still works part-time for a housing association. Ed enjoys cycling, travelling and reading. Ed is serving his curacy with the parish of Holy Trinity, Clapham.
Ben Vertannes
Ben grew up in Surrey and Lincolnshire before moving to Cambridge to study History. After specialising in medieval history, Ben later trained as a secondary school teacher. He worked in two South London schools and had responsibility for coaching and mentoring, especially of new teachers. He also served as a school governor at two primary schools in Croydon. Ben is a qualified football referee and enjoys spending time swimming, exploring museums and watching films. He is married to Natasha, a secondary school teacher, and they have two children. Ben is serving his curacy with the parish of St Peter, Streatham.
Annie Wanjohi
Annie was born and brought up in Nyahururu, Kenya. She studied for a degree in Education at Kenyatta University, later working as a Swahili and secretarial teacher. Once in England, she studied Nursing and Midwifery, and worked as a nurse in the NHS. Annie has two children, and enjoys watching films, music, running, “nyama choma” (BBQ meat Kenyan style!) and art galleries. Annie is serving her curacy with the parish of St John the Divine with St James the Apostle, Kennington.
Claire Whitmore
Claire is a lifelong Londoner. Before beginning her ordination training she worked as a project manager for charities including Girlguiding and Christian Aid. Claire studied at the Queen’s Foundation ecumenical theological college in Birmingham where she particularly enjoyed modules looking at global perspectives on theological issues; her dissertation discusses the experience of white people trying to read the Bible with an anti-racist hermeneutic. In her free time Claire likes to knit and to read, and take long walks with her husband Dave. Claire is serving her curacy with the parish of Holy Trinity Roehampton.
Woolwich Episcopal Area
The following are to be ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, at St Luke, Camberwell. Bishop Christopher will be joined by the Rt Revd Dr Karowei Dorgu, Bishop of Woolwich.
Dr Tatiana Gutteridge-Kalveks
Tatiana was brought up in Buckinghamshire, before moving to Bristol to study. She completed a PhD in Theology at the University of Oxford; her research interests include worship music, liturgy, sin and sacramental theology. She is married and enjoys painting and composing. Tatiana is serving her curacy with the parish of St Alfege, Greenwich.
Dr Jo Lewis-Burgess
Jo was born in London and grew up in Northumberland. She studied Natural Sciences as an undergraduate, and returned to London for a PhD, followed by research and teaching posts in mathematical modelling and medical statistics at UCL and Imperial College London. She worshipped for many years at St Peter, Vauxhall, and during ordination training she has undertaken a long placement at St George the Martyr, Southwark. She is married to Stephen and loves singing, walking and – of course – South London. Jo is serving her curacy with the parish of St Luke, Camberwell.
Joel Soares
Joel was born and raised in the West Midlands. After graduating from Birmingham University with a degree in Economics, he spent more than a year in New York, working in downtown Manhattan as an intern for American Express. Following that he moved to London to start a career in banking but spent much of his time volunteering for a church. After getting married and having children he decided to pursue his call to full-time ministry. In his spare time Joel enjoys listening to podcasts on theology, society and culture, and doing CrossFit. Joel is serving his curacy with the parish of St Peter, Brockley.
