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Rector The Reverend Helen Kendrick
01235 848297
rector@damascusparish.org.uk
Helen has been Rector of the DAMASCUS Parish since its creation on 1st July 2017. She was Priest-in-Charge of Sutton Courtenay with Appleford for just over 14 years before the single parish came into being. She lives in Sutton Courtenay with her family. She has oversight of the whole parish, as the incumbent, and specific pastoral responsibility for Sutton Courtenay and Appleford. In the five rapidly changing villages she is keen to see the churches continue to serve at the heart of their communities, as they have done for centuries, and support one another in love to live out their vision of Nurturing faith, bringing hope and sharing love.
Helen is also currently serving as Area Dean for the Abingdon Deanery
Associate Priest
The Reverend Phil Sutton
01235 635476 & 07507378737
revphil@damascusparish.org.uk
Phil originally trained as a medical engineer and worked for twenty years in childrens and newborn intensive care units developing a range of implantable heart monitors and life support systems, especially for emergency transport services. Following ordination and a period of rural ministry, he returned to the NHS to serve as a lead for hospital chaplaincy and bereavement services in Bath, Bristol and Oxford. Phil retains a close involvement in medical ethics and specialist bereavement support for parents who have lost a child and post trauma counselling.
A return to semi-rural ministry has been a delight and for relaxation Phil and his wife Jane work with Hearing dogs for Deaf People training assistance dogs for adults and children.
Associate Priest
The Reverend Rosie Bruce
07766 421773
rosiebruce@hotmail.co.uk
Since moving into Drayton in 1984,Rosie has worshiped and found great fellowship at St Peter’s. She has served on the PCC and various village groups as well as helping to run the church choir and music group. It was through the encouragement and support of the congregation that Rosie became ordained as an Ordained Local Minister nearly ten years ago.
Her calling is still to serve the local community in which she lives. Until recently Rosie worked full time as a music teacher in many of the schools in Abingdon.
Licensed Lay Minister
Jack Jarvis
01235 831395
jarvisj044@gmail.com
Born in Steventon, Jack has lived here all of his life as has Pat his wife. They have 3 sons, 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He worked in the building industry all his life,
in 1962 he started, with a partner, the firm Thomas & Jarvis. In 1973 they took on a village Undertakers business which ran for 30 years. He was licensed a Reader in 1991.
Licensed Lay Minister
Dr Tim Budd
01235 527853
tim.budd23@gmail.com
Tim became a Licenced Lay Minister (or Reader as they were then called) in 1989. He served initially in St. Helens in Abingdon where he met his wife, Alison. In 1993 they moved to Milton with their three children and he served at St. Blaise for 13 years. Since 2007 he has served primarily at All Saints’ Sutton Courtenay but he enjoys leading services across the whole parish and believes the churches are stronger working together.
Until retirement in 2011 he fitted his church commitments around a scientific career. He trained as a physicist at Bristol and studied for a PhD in radiation physics while working at Harwell. He then worked as a control engineer for 25 years on the JET project at Culham.
This is a world leading EU funded project to research the use of nuclear fusion to generate electricity and he found it a great joy to work with talented scientists and engineers from Europe and beyond.
Licensed Lay Minister
Mrs Alex Landsbert
01235 847443
landsbert@west-manor.co.uk
Alex has been a Licensed Lay Minister for over 20 years, serving first in Cumnor, and then near Weymouth when she moved with her husband on his retirement. Now a widow, she has moved back to the Abingdon area to be nearer the family. With a practical background in nursing and midwifery, Alex is a keen gardener and tackles d.i.y. with gusto.
