Rev. Richard Hill – Rector

Born in London and raised on the northwest side, I became a Christian at University in my second term. I had been studying law and someone gave me a book, proving beyond reasonable doubt that Jesus rose from the dead. It was actually a few weeks later that someone explained to me how I could invite Jesus into my life. I had worked in a solicitors’ office in the City of London but felt called into the ordained ministry of the C of E. After a year off working as a porter in an operating theatre in the Leicester Royal Infirmary, I added a theology degree to my law degree and then headed off to St. Peter’s Harold Wood, on the edge of Greater London in Essex. There I ran the youth work and learnt a lot about leading a growing church. It was harder work in my second curacy at Stapehill and Hampreston, near Wimborne, but the churches there grew despite having few younger people when I arrived. I went to Swanland, near Hull in 1986, where I met my wife Elaine who was manager of the Christian bookshop. We witnessed the building of an entirely new church building, with £800,000 raised by faith. The church grew a lot especially through Alpha and I led the Alpha work in East Yorks, with Elaine and we went to the USA with Nicky Gumbel and co to help US churches set up Alpha courses. Alpha spawned a lot of growth across the York diocese and beyond. In fact I became a Diocesan advisor in Evangelism, did a lot of work on local radio and helped to start a Christian telephone helpline. Deciding the Lord was leading me to a fresh challenge we came to the Strettons in 2008.

Rev. Suzan Williams – Curate

Rev. John Hughes – Associate Minister

I am married to Christine and we have 5 children and 10 boisterous grandchildren. We moved to Church Stretton in 1981 and since then I have been church warden for 10 years, lay reader for 13 years before embarking on the ordained ministry course in 2001. I was ordained in 2005 and priested in 2006. My passion is that young and old, rich and poor, would all come to know the love of God .

Rev. Nancy Cleaton – Associate Minister

I was born and brought up in Cornwall as a member of the Plymouth Brethren – a strict fellowship where women did not speak in church! Despite this strict upbringing I always wanted “to do some sort of Christian work” so I studied at the London School of Theology and took a Bachelor of Divinity degree at London University.

After University I moved firstly to Turners Hill and then Eastleigh. Whilst in Hampshire I became Administrator at Above Bar Church.

A move to Shropshire in the early nineties soon led to me becoming the Parish Secretary, a post I held for twenty years until stepping down at the beginning of 2011 having helped four Rectors settle in. It was whilst I was here is Shropshire that I felt God calling me into ministry. I firstly trained as a Reader and then, after a few years and more training, I was ordained.

Having just retired from my ‘paid’ job I wait to see what God has in store for me in these beautiful Shropshire hills. Somehow I suspect I’ll be even busier than when I was working!

Mrs. Sarah Robinson – Children’s Worker

I am a Primary School Teacher and I have taught in several schools in Shropshire over the years. A few years ago, I taught at St Lawrence’s Primary School, Church Stretton, so some of you may remember me teaching you! I have had people say to me, ‘I remember you! You sang and played ‘The Robot Song’ on your guitar!’ I do hope that I taught them a little more than that! It is wonderful to be back involved in the school teaching again with the existing teams at ‘3.16’ (Junior Christian Club) and ‘JAM Club’ (Infant Christian Club). I look forward to joining in with ‘Open the Book’ Assemblies on Friday mornings, when I can.

I am so impressed with all that has been set up and running for children in Church Stretton and I realise that huge effort has been put in by so many over the years for this to have happened. One person, in particular, I would like to thank is Moriel Gidney, who I have taken over from as Children’s worker. The hours and effort she must have put in have been enormous and her achievements are incredible. I am so grateful to Moriel for her support also and I treasure her Christian friendship and words of wisdom.

I wish to note that my job isn’t just working with children but I am also available for talking with parents and young families. I am at the Parents and Toddlers Group on Thursday mornings in the Parish Centre so please come and introduce yourself to me there if you wish; I would love that!

My main aim is to share the reality of Jesus with children and adults and I would very happily pray with you at any time. May your hearts and homes be open to God’s unfailing love and bring you true joy and peace.

Mrs. Sarah Wildblood – Youth Worker

My name is Sarah, and I am the part-time Youth Worker @ St Laurences Church. I have lived in the area for the past 23yrs. I am married to John and we have four children. I came to faith at the age of 19yrs and God has always been with me & never let me down even during some difficult times. My husband and I enjoy walking on our lovely local hills; trips to the cinema and eating out. I love lots of different types of music and dancing. The majority of my working life has been in the nursing profession, but in 2009, I felt drawn by God to help with the young people in our community. It is a challenging but very rewarding role, as I have the privilege to build relationships with and be a small part in these young people’s lives. I am not sure what God has in store for the future but as it says in Jeremiah 29:11; ‘I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for..’ (The Message Bible)

Mrs. Valerie McCalla – Director of Music

I moved to Church Stretton with my husband in 1999, taking up my present role in 2002. We have two children, and three grandchildren, and had lived in Hertfordshire for many years, where I was teaching. Having trained at the Royal Manchester College of Music as a pianist in earlier years, it was at the age of forty, that I studied the organ for two years, having been prevailed upon to fill a sudden vacancy for an organist in our Church. This came with a sense of calling to the privilege of leading the Church in worship.

My Christian belief had been nurtured through childhood and adolescence by family and schooling, and in my late twenties came the realisation and desire for a more personal relationship with God. That commitment was another step along the daily journey of faith. Alongside all the blessings the Lord provides come opportunities for service, and in my time I have worked with children in Sunday School, Pathfinders and Youth Group. Alas, my days for playing ‘British Bulldogs’ are definitely over, but who knows what He has in store around the next corner!

Miss Sally Cooke -  Outreach Worker

Sally is our part-time, volunteer outreach worker.

Jim Davies – Church Warden

Mrs. Jo Aze – Parish Secretary

Our family moved to Church Stretton in 2007 from Shipley near Bradford, where we’d lived for 14 years. I am married to Steve, and we have three children. Our daughter is just about to take her A-levels at Ludlow College and our two boys are at Church Stretton School. Steve runs a software publishing company which specialises in careers education software for schools, where I work part time in an administrative role. As we work from home we decided that home could be somewhere beautiful, so we chose to move to Church Stretton as this is somewhere we knew having spent many holidays here. Life is busy with having two part time jobs, a family and a home to run, but any spare time is spent walking in the hills, pilates or badminton at the leisure centre or cycle rides. Steve and I are both involved with the Open the Book assemblies at the primary school, where I am also a governor. I am enjoying the challenge of my new job in the Parish Office and meeting lots of new people.