Meet Our New Deacons and Priests

On Sunday 28 June, 16 men and women within the Diocese of Winchester will be made deacons at Winchester Cathedral. Meet the ‘new revs’ who have followed God’s calling to ordination…

Stacey Brook

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Chandler’s Ford

For me, ordination is one of the greatest privileges: to love God’s people as He loves them in the best human capacity I can. As I step into what God has called me to do, I feel a deep sense of joy and peace. One of my greatest passions is proclaiming the good news and helping people encounter Jesus. I long to find natural and accessible ways of doing that. One dream I carry is to see a hair salon within a church building, a place that breaks down barriers, builds community, offers prayer naturally and freely, and helps people encounter the love of God in everyday life.

My family, husband and three children are my world and the biggest blessing from God; please pray for us and especially them as we settle into this next chapter.

Beckie Denny

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of East Winchester

I’ve been studying at St Mellitus in London for the last two years and been at St Matthew’s with St Paul’s as an ordinand. Prior to that I completed the BPP with Winchester Mission and Ministry whilst in the discernment process. I’ll be serving as Assistant Curate at East Winchester Benefice, alongside my work in the charity sector where I run a strategic and fundraising consultancy. I have three children (6, 2 and 11 weeks!), two of whom have been born during training.

I’d really appreciate prayers for my husband, Phil, and our three children as we move churches to join the community at East Winchester Benefice, and as we learn to navigate curacy alongside busy family life whilst trusting that this is where God is calling us to be.

Philip Geddes

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Brightwater

Having trained as a chartered accountant and been a tax professional in the life insurance sector until I retired in 2024, I will be taking up my curacy in my home Benefice of Brightwaters, where we’ve lived for 23 years.

I have served the church in a number of ways over the years, most recently as an LLM since 2019, and I look forward to a more sacramental ministry in due course.

I would value prayer for wisdom for how to engage with the community as a deacon, for boldness in proclaiming the gospel, and for an ability to get alongside people of different backgrounds and so to share God’s love.

Charlie Gibbs

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of St Michael the Archangel Southampton

I have been training at Trinity College Bristol for the last three years, as a Context Based student ministering in churches across Southampton. I will be completing my Curacy at St Michael the Archangel in Southampton.

Prior to ordination I worked as a Pharmacy Dispenser, and ended up managing various community pharmacies across Hampshire.

Prayers are appreciated as I return to working in pharmacy alongside my curacy post, for the transition period and to continue to discern the call of God in my life.

Sarah Grantham Gill

Serving her curacy in: The Upper Itchen Benefice

I am really looking forward to serving the communities of the Upper Itchen Benefice as Assistant Curate, alongside Revd Christopher and the ministry team.

I would like to thank my tutors at Winchester Licenced Ministry Training and everyone who has encouraged and supported me on this long journey towards ordination as deacon.

Please pray for my family during this time of change. Please pray also for the churches of the Upper Itchen, that they will be places where more and more people draw closer to Christ.

Sam Gristwood

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Southampton, St Mary

After coming to faith through the Alpha Course at Saint Mary’s Southampton in 2019, I sensed a call to ministry, very quickly leaving my career in Recruitment. I went on to work for Compassion UK and then Alpha UK where I supported, encouraged and equipped churches across the South of England to run Alpha and think about mission.

I finally stopped ignoring the call to Ordinand ministry in the Church of England and started training at St Mellitus in September 2023, alongside being on placement at Saint Marys Southampton.

Please pray for my wife, Issy, my daughter and I, as we continue to be obedient to God’s call on our lives as we continue to play our part in seeking the renewal of Southampton.

Lucy Hoyes

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Bitterne Park

I am delighted to be beginning my curacy at Ascension Church in Southampton, serving part-time alongside my work in teacher education at the University of Southampton.

I would value your prayers as I navigate this new calling and seek to serve my community faithfully, while balancing family life with my husband and our two boys as we journey through this new season together.

Julie Martin

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Maybush

My name is Julie Martin and after working in the NHS for 40 years as a pharmacist I have followed God’s call and trained full-time for ministry at Sarum College over the past year.

I have been part of the Totton and Calmore team for around 30 years, most recently as a LLM.

I am moving to become a part-time assistant curate in the Maybush Benefice.

Inclusion is important to me and I believe that Jesus’ love is for everyone and I am looking forward to joining the team in Maybush.

Please pray for me and my husband Mike as we transition churches after 30 years.

Elliot Miller

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Totton and Calmore

I first felt the call to ordained ministry about eight years ago, whilst worshipping at St Mary’s Church Southampton. I continued my discernment journey at Christ Church Winchester, first through the national Ministry Experience Scheme, and then as the church admin officer.

I have spent the last three years in Oxford, studying at Wycliffe Hall – Biblical studies, church history, theology and philosophy, ethics, mission, and a special project on Heavy Metal as contemporary worship music – all while learning the ropes of preaching and pastoring in our local church.

Thanks to your support and prayers, I have never felt more convinced (nor more excited) that Christ is calling me to serve, encourage, and lead as an ordained minister in his Church. May He strengthen and equip us all as we seek to obey and proclaim Him!

Kerry Murphy

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Winchester St Matthew

I trained for ordination at St Mellitus College in London, and serve at Christ Church, Winchester. I’ll begin my curacy at St Matthew with St Paul, Winchester following my ordination as deacon.

I came to faith through attending a Mothers’ Union holiday with my daughter Tegan, where I encountered the love and support of the volunteers and chaplain. It was a place where I felt deeply seen and welcomed without question, an experience that continues to shape my understanding of ministry and the kind of Church I long to help build.

As a full-time wheelchair user, I am passionate about disability theology, belonging, and helping the Church move beyond simply accommodating disabled people to truly welcoming and valuing them.

Please pray for wisdom, courage, and compassion as I begin my curacy in a new context and seek to love a new community well.

Mel Osborne

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Eversley and Darby Green

I will be moving from the South Coast to be licensed at Eversley and Darby Green. I have served as a Children and Families Worker at Brockenhurst Parish Churches in the New Forest for the past three and a half years while training with Winchester Mission and Ministry.

I describe myself as a bit of a Bible nerd and enjoy exploring Scripture with people of all ages. I am also a member of the Diocesan Racial Justice Group.

Please pray for my family and I as we navigate a house move, for my husband Danny as he searches for a new job, and for peace, wisdom, and discernment as we settle into our new community.

Bev Price

Serving her curacy in: The Benefice of Hedge End, St Luke

I have spent the past two years training for ordained ministry at Trinity College Bristol on the MA pathway. Prior to this, I studied for a BA in Applied Theology at Moorlands College. Before theological training, I served as a nurse for 19 years in Zimbabwe, the NHS, and the private sector.

I am excited to be joining the Parish of St Luke’s Church, Hedge End, for my curacy.

Please may you kindly pray that I continue to discern what God is doing, remain sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and serve Jesus, the people of St Luke’s, our diocese, and the wider Church faithfully and with lasting joy! Please also pray for us as a family as we settle into this new season in Hedge End.

John Searles

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Portway & Danebury

I will serve as a self-supporting minister in the Portway and Danebury Benefice. Following a career of 24 years in finance, I retired in 2012 after a period of ill health; I now seek to offer my retirement years in dedicated service to God.

While I have been a Christian my whole life, my illness brought a profound spiritual awakening. In my suffering, I drew close to God, and He drew close to me. This past decade has been a journey of discovery, as I have listened for God’s call on my life and He has gradually expanded my ministry.

Please pray for my health as I begin this new chapter of service within the local community in humility and thankfulness for God’s great goodness.

Julian Sims

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Fordingbridge and Hyde and Breamore and Hale with Woodgreen

My first feel of a call to ordained ministry was back in 1998 so it has been a long slow process. Having split my time between Trinity College, Bristol and Avon Valley Churches during my two years as an Ordinand, I now look forward to my new ministry as an Assistant Curate in the Parish I grew up in. I look forward to working with the team I already know in Avon Valley Churches and am excited to join others in the Parish and Deanery who are stepping forward into training and new ministries.

As I approach this next stage of ministry I would ask for prayers for the changes it brings to long-standing relationships and more widely that Avon Valley Churches and Christchurch Deanery continue to see God moving in their communities.

Andrew Spence

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Milford

I will be licensed to Milford on Sea benefice after retiring from a 35-year career in IT helping companies with their technology projects and problems.

I have lived in Fiji, Nigeria, Bahrain, Kuwait and worked extensively in Belgium, Holland, the US and Canada.

My call to ordained ministry has been a 25-year journey beginning with helping in Sunday School before gradually trying every role in church other than Treasurer and flower arranging!

Please pray for wisdom for my family and I as I transition into the role of deacon and patience as we wrestle with selling our old and buying our new home.

Andrew West

Serving his curacy in: The Benefice of Bournemouth Town Centre

I am really excited to serve my Title at Bournemouth Town Centre Parish. Prior to my training at Sarum College in Salisbury, my ministry spanned a mighty 27 years as an organist. Alongside this I spent 17 years within the financial services sector, latterly as a Complaints Manager for an insurance company.

I originally sensed God’s call to ordination 25 years ago, not long after I finished my liturgical music degree. This reignited again 6 years ago, and now, here I am…

Please pray for my wife, two daughters and I as we move to Bournemouth and start this new chapter together; that we may navigate this transition with strength and wisdom as I begin my ordained ministry.

New Priests

Have a look at the photos of these new priests being deaconed last year!