OUR TEAM
Get to Know Us
REVD DR ROBIN PARRY
Assistant Curate at St Martin's
Robin grew up in Merseyside and moved to North Wales when he was nine. He works as a theological books editor for a US-based company called Wipf & Stock Publishers. In his spare time, he writes theology books of his own.
Robin and his wife Carol have lived in Worcester since 1991 when he accepted a teaching job at the Sixth Form College. They have two daughters, Hannah and Jessica, and a three-legged cat called Monty.
If he was ever on Mastermind his specialist subject would be Doctor Who.
REVD CANON STEPHEN BUCKLEY
Associate priest with the team, attached to St Martin's
Stephen was born in London, and after training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he worked for twelve years in the professional theatre as an actor and stage manager. After leaving the theatre in 1980, he moved to Oxford where he managed a Works Opportunity Scheme for young people before commencing ordination training at Cranmer Hall, Durham in 1982. He served his curacy in Oxford diocese before moving to the Black Country parishes of Halesowen and later Sedgley. Stephen retired from full-time ministry in 2015 when he and his wife Christine moved to Worcester. He has been an associate priest at St Martin's since 2017.
REVD MYSTERY
Team Rector and Rector of St Martin's
St Martin's is currently in a period of vacancy.
We are actively seeking a new rector.
REVD ANDY STAND
Parish Priest of St Mark in the Cherry Orchard and St Philip & St James, Whittington
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REVD ROB FARMER
Vicar of Holy Trinity and St Matthew's Church, Ronkswood
Rob was born and bred in Walsall in the West Midlands. He was a Sales Manager for an Electrical Engineering company before his ordination in 2006. He served his curacy at St Chad’s Church in Lichfield before becoming Vicar of St James the Great in Longdon, Staffordshire, then St Mark’s Church in Shelfield, Walsall. On moving to Worcester, Rob became Rector of St Martin’s Church before taking up his current post in Ronkswood. Rob is married to Julie and they have two daughters, Laura and Katie, and a mad cockapoo called Freddie.
MIKE BUNCLARK
Licensed Reader within the Team, attached to St Martin's
Mike comes from Liverpool, leaving in 1963 for University to read Chemistry. On graduating, Mike moved to London to work for Metal Box as a research chemist. He had a long career with them, ranging from Research to Training and Development to International HR Management.
After retiring in 2009, he explored Reader ministry, started training in 2011, and was licensed in 2013.
Mike is married to Anne, an ex-nurse, whom he met in Oxford. They came to Worcester in 1994 on one of Mike’s company moves.
Mike and Anne have a daughter Claire and two granddaughters, Ellie and Mel.
An ex-amateur thespian, Mike loves to sing and is a self-confessed G&S nut.
JOHN SWINDELLS
Director of Music
John received his musical training in Yorkshire, where he was Organ Scholar at Sheffield Cathedral whilst he read Music there. During this time he took organ lessons with Neil Taylor and Dr Simon Lindley. John did a PGCE at Cambridge University and held music-teaching posts in Gloucestershire, Malvern, and Shropshire. Currently, he is based at King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham. From 2006–2019, he was Organist and later Director of Music at St Michaels Tenbury, where he re-founded an adult SATB church choir and co-directed the St Michael’s Singers. He also coordinated the Music Programme involving concerts, educational activities, and visiting choirs for the liturgy. John is also a trumpeter and has directed various ensembles, both choral and instrumental. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists.
REBECCA CASKIE
Parish and Team Administrator
Originally from Yorkshire, Rebecca joined the team in 2016 as our Parish Administrator for the Worcester South East Team of Churches following a move to Worcester from Scotland with her husband Andrew and two sons. Having a background in HR/Training & Development within manufacturing and housebuilding, she now juggles motherhood with her part-time role at St Martin’s. She also helps run the children’s work at her own church and enjoys singing with a local chamber choir.
MALCOLM MCMURRAY
Church Warden and Parish Centre Manager
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ELIZABETH YARKER
Church Warden
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PCC MEMBERS
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Margaret Benson
Jim Berrow
Stephen Buckley (Associate Priest, ex officio)
Mike Bunclark (Licensed Reader, Deanery Synod Rep, ex officio)
Philip Clayton (Deputy Church Warden, ex officio)
Ginny Duckett
Anthony Glossop (Chair of the Finance & Management committee, Deanery Synod Rep, ex officio)
Julia Glossop (Electoral Roll Officer)
Joy Grimwood (Verger)
Nick Harrison (PCC Secretary)
Ruth Kirwan
Malcolm McMurray (Church Warden, Lay Vice Chair, ex officio)
Robin Parry (Assistant Curate, ex officio)
Barbara Richards (Deputy Church Warden, ex officio)
Gail Rowley
Martin Rowley
Bill Simpson (Hon. Deputy Treasurer)
David Scott (co-opted)
Shirley Scott (Chair of the Concerts committee, Publicity Officer, Deanery Synod Rep, ex officio)
Kath Shepherd
Sheila Treacher (Safeguarding Officer, ex officio)
Christine Williams (Planned Giving Recorder)
Garth Williams (Hon. Treasurer, co-opted)
Elizabeth Yarker (Church Warden, Chair of the Missionary committee, Readings co-ordinator, ex officio)
PCC COMMITTEES
STANDING COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY CARE
CONCERTS
FINANCE & MANAGEMENT
MAGAZINE & PUBLICITY
MISSIONARY
SOCIAL
YOUNGER GENERATIONS
The Rector
Isabel Maher
Shirley Scott
Anthony Glossop
Jim Wheldon
Elizabeth Yarker
Alison Fraser
Sheila Farthing
CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ALL-AGE WORSHIP GROUP
CHRISTIANS LEARNING TOGETHER
CHURCH FLOWERS
FLOWER FELLOWSHIP
HEAD SERVER
JAM CLUB
MESSY CHURCH
MOTHER'S UNION
PARISH CENTRE BOOKINGS
PARISH MAGAZINE
PARISH SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
Revd Robin Parry
Mike Bunclark
Emma Allen
Carole Currie
Philip Penfold
Liz Frani
Jessica Adzil
Karen Valence
Martin and Gail Rowley
Tina Alvin
Joan Hazzard
Nick Harrison (editor)
Sheila Treacher
