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Who are we

The People

Ultimately the church is really the people. There might be a local church building, or nine in the case of Stroud. There might be a paid clergy, or three in the case of Stroud. With or without these, the church is the people.

As parish churches, the people is everyone living in and around Stroud. These are your parish churches and you are welcome however and whenever. Whether you come every week, Christmas and Easter or just the occasional wedding and funeral. These are your churches and you are welcome.

The Clergy

Rev’d James Turk

James is our Team Rector

Sarah and I have celebrated 28 wonderful years of marriage, and our
family includes our two incredible sons, Oliver and Josh, as well as our
lively 2-year-old Cockapoo named Bentley.

In the early months of 2022, an exciting opportunity came my way – the
role of Team Vicar in Stroud. This offer filled our hearts with joy and
anticipation. Both Sarah and I have deep roots in the nearby city of
Gloucester, and we have frequently found ourselves drawn to the
charming town of Stroud during weekends. The vibrant atmosphere and
unique vibe  of Stroud make it an honour to both serve as a minister and
call this town our home.

Before stepping into the role of Team Vicar, my journey took me through
a different path. I served as a self-supporting minister in Gloucester while
also maintaining a full-time position at a local engineering firm. My
weekends were devoted to leading at my church, but from Monday to
Friday, I embraced my role as a priest in the workplace, specifically as a
Drawing Office Programmer. Those years as a self-supporting minister
provided me with an unforgettable experience, allowing me to represent
God and the church in the midst of the everyday rhythms of life. This
grounding in the realities of day-to-day existence, away from the confines
of traditional church settings, now enriches my role as a full-time vicar, as
I undertake my parish duties.

Favourite place to be on a day off. Off cycling somewhere and maybe
finishing the ride in a pub for a pint of local ale.

Something that brings me joy. Playing keyboards and guitar in the
band of which I am part of. Music gives me great pleasure and it is a joy
to be able to express that through playing with other musicians.

Normal day off: Fridays
01453 708513

Rev’d Simon Howell

Simon is our Team Pioneer

Ruth and I met at school(!) and have been married now for 35 years and are very proud of our boys as they emerge as adults in the world: Matthew (in the Emergency Services in Bristol), Gabriel (an actor in London) and Noah (recently left sixth-form in Stroud). Ruth is now a deputy head of a primary school, and over the years, we have lived and worked in Hong Kong, Cambridge, London, Bristol and now the most beautiful of them all: Stroud!

I have been the Pioneer Minister here since 2014 with a particular vocation to live & work alongside the extensive ‘spiritual but not religious’ community in Stroud, understanding day-by-day what churches that exist in the middle of their community may look like – and hence immersed in that process. Examples of the outworking of this can be found here and here. I am also a Team Vicar engaged in, for example, life-events, LMTs, graveyards and safeguarding and, alongside this, am occupied in the development of projects that have a particular eco-spiritual focus such as this and this. Additionally, I am Inter Faith Adviser to the Diocese and love playing in the 11-piece multi-faith, dance & meditation band from Stroud, The Raga Babas!

Favourite place to be on a day off: Walking our dog in The Heavens, enjoying the vibrant expressions of whatever season it is, with our extended wider family is always an excellent day.

Something that brings me joy: Watching live theatre and music with family and friends.

Normal day off: Usual day off is Saturday.
01453350387

Rev’d Helen Hill

Helen is our Associate Priest

I live with Peter Hill in Charfield on top of the hill. Our three daughters are all in their thirties. The old toys and favourite books still come out for our five grandchildren though. I’m glad I have to get outside every day to feed and move the chickens to new grass because it makes me look at the sky, notice the birds and what’s going on in the garden.

I am with the Stroud Parish Churches team as a curate (a vicar in a training post) three days plus each week. It’s very enriching to be getting to know the different church communities and to have the opportunity to interact with such diverse expressions of local community. My day can be somewhat like Kate’s – she is my mentor. I am also involved in setting up our bereavement support team, join in our Christian book club and discipleship courses, and volunteer as pastor and sandwich-maker with Marah.

Favorite place to be on a day off:  Somewhere wild with big skies and open space.

Something that brings me joy: Seeing the family enjoying being with one another

Normal day off: Helen is self-supporting, so a volunteer. Her normal days of volunteering are alternating Wednesdays and Saturdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
07494 322221

Rev’d Mathew Page

Matthew is one of our self-supporting ministers, so a volunteer. He brings his strategic thinking and experience to our leadership team and can be found taking services on a Sunday morning.

I have worked in the Stroud Team since the very beginning, prior to this I served my curacy in the parishes of Cainscross and Selsley.

I enjoy a dual vocation to mental health nursing and ministry. This means that while I am a Priest all day every day, I earn my living in the NHS and am physically involved in ministry in the Stroud Team at specific times.

In my day job I am the Chief Operating Officer running Mental Health Services across the Avon and Wiltshire area, during the last two years as the incident commander for COVID-19 I have needed to concentrate most of my efforts on my NHS duties.

However I am always exploring the ways of relating mental health and spiritual wellbeing. In the small amounts of time I have to myself I like to make things, whether its cooking or woodwork, I like to reflect on the meaning and purpose we can / do put into things.

Favourite Place to be on a day off: With my two sons on the western most point of Pembrokeshire watching the seals, porpoises, peregrines and migratory birds arriving and departing.

Something that brings me joy: Being with the people I love and being amazed at the wonder of creation.

Rev Stephen Saville

Stephen is our Curate

I have lived with Juliette near the church by the hospital in Stroud since 2000. We moved from London where we met in 1992.I have taught RS and Sociology in Archway School since 2000 and I trained for ordination as a Priest in 2020. In my role as curate I spend 3 days teaching in school and 3 days in the wider community and church.

I have an interest in contemplative prayer, interfaith dialogue (especially with Buddhism), and the place of the church and christians within their local communities. As a curate I am very much a ‘learner’ and my week-to-week rhythm is determined by my training needs. So, some months I have a focus on life events, or buildings, or developing our ministry with adults with learning disabilities etc.

Favourite place to be on a day off: Walking in the local hills followed by live music and a meal with Juliette and any of our adult children who may happen to be about.

Something that brings me joy: The music of Taize and the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh

 

 

Normal day off: Steve is self-supporting, so a volunteer. His normal days of volunteering are Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.
07503 164309

Jodie Calcutt

Jodie is our Team Manager. A senior member of the team who brings strategic organisation and administration skills. Jodie typically works on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

I live in Middleyard with my husband Chris and young children Annabel and Oscar – who keep me busy!

My background is in Human Resource Management, and I have spent the past 15 years in this field. I have a passion for supporting the church in welcoming our local families, and for helping the 9 churches to work together collaboratively & enthusiastically. As Team Manager, I organise our Life Events, manage our ChurchSuite database, coordinate meetings/reporting, deal with graveyard & buildings issues, and support team collaboration across our churches. In my Bookings role, I am a central point of contact for all of our halls & churches’ event bookings, dealing with customers and supporting the churches in generating revenue & community links.

Favourite place to be on a day off: meeting up with friends and family, preferably by water or somewhere with lovely food.

Something that brings me joy: cuddles with my amazing children!

Normal day off: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
01453 708511

Safeguarding

Our safeguarding team can be contacted on this email address: [email protected]

For more helpful information see our safeguarding page >>

Safeguarding

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Getting in touch

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Communion during this time

In these unprecedented times, we are working hard to find imaginative solutions in a landscape that has been rapidly changing. Sometimes we get things right, and sometimes we miss the mark. I apologise that this has been the case regarding communion.

For those of you who have received wafers in a parcel, we would ask that you either consume them, or put them somewhere safe to bring back once we are able to be together again.

We are going to be sending out a new order of service for use during this time as either a simple service of the word or, on occasion, to help us to share an Agape meal together.

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