Our Speakers

I’m currently Anglican Chaplain to the University of York. Before my present post, I was Vicar of the Ampleforth Benefice and IME 2 Training Adviser for the Cleveland Archdeaconry. I began to discern a vocation to the priesthood during my doctoral studies at St Petersburg State University in Russia and through my involvement in the Anglican Chaplaincy in the city. I later went on to train at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield and was ordained Deacon at York Minster in 2014 and Priest in 2015. I am married to Andrew and we have two young children.

I thoroughly enjoy ‘ministry on campus’ and there are many aspects to university chaplaincy in a secular institution that continue to be both challenging and rewarding. There is a certain intensity to ministry in my context and I especially appreciate the joy of engaging others in community life to reflect the Gospel in the university setting. I’m one of the tutors at the York School of Ministry and have research interests in liturgical theology and studies in Russian Orthodox liturgy.

Britt Webb

I’m currently a curate in Sheffield Diocese. I’m based at a church on two estates in Sheffield, that’s in an old pub. I’m designated as a pioneer curate, because I want to connect with people outside and on the fringes of church, to help people see that Jesus can be relevant to their lives. I spend a lot of my curacy working with young people, adults around their wellbeing, and others in recovery from various addictions.

Before ordination training, I was an outreach youth worker in Stevenage. I’m originally from Sydney in Australia, having moved to the UK 9 years ago for a gap year, and stayed since then! I love exploring new places and playing football and netball in my free time.

Originally from Kent, I’m now Priest-in-Charge of a church in Gateshead. I first came to the north east for university, and it was there that I came to faith and started to discern my vocation to the priesthood.

I spent a year testing that vocation as a ministry assistant in Sunderland before training for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge. I have had mobility difficulties all my life, and my ministry so far has been both challenged and enriched by them.

Alongside my current ministry I am studying part-time for a PhD in Reformation history, and can otherwise be found cross stitching and/or spending time with my glorious cat, Betty.

Lizzie Hare

I am a pastoral tutor and lecturer in Old Testament at Cranmer Hall in Durham, which is a lot of fun! I teach modules on the Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew, and I also oversee the development of Cranmer Hall’s work in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Before moving back to the North East I worked variously as an English teacher in China, for the charity CPAS in the West Midlands, and for a Christian community in London.

I am currently training to be a Licensed Lay Reader in the Church of England, and am really enjoying exploring this area of my vocation, studying theology, and spending time with faithful and wonderful people training for all kinds of different ministries.

I’ve worked in the voluntary and community sector in County Durham for the past 10 years, currently at County Durham Community Foundation and previously at Durham Christian Partnership.

I went to St Nic’s Durham for the first time as a student and 13 years later I’m still there, being at different times a Ministry Experience Volunteer, PCC Secretary and Church Warden.

I love exploring the wonders of the North East, and am currently spending a lot of time training my energetic, loveable puppy Poppy.

I am the Children/ youth families worker based in Doncaster at St Peter’s Bentley. I began this journey as a MES Future youth candidate linked with the Centenary Project ran by the Sheffield Diocese. That year gave me the foundations to be where I am today, with training from the Aurora course and gaining lots of experience in other settings really helped finding my calling.

I now work along side the Centenary project as an official children/ youth worker in my church. My weeks are filled with different children/ youth clubs which I helped develop with my church and I have began working alongside the local Baptist church in Bentley. Before joining the ministry experience scheme I worked in mental health recovery, the past me wouldn’t believe where I am today, in which in my opinion is the best job in the world!

I am from Wakefield in West Yorkshire and I’m currently Children and Families Worker for St Peters and St John’s Church Horbury and Horbury Bridge. I originally trained as a secondary school teacher and taught for 4 years before beginning a role in with an ecumenical school’s work organisation where I worked for 9 years.

Within that time, I was licenced as a LLM and began exploring my vocation to children and families work. I have a real desire for our children and young people to be provided with opportunities where they can encounter God and explore faith and then grow in their Christian faith.

Any free time is spent with my husband and son, we love exploring new places and trips to the theatre.