Mark Thomas, vicarMark Thomas, vicar

Mark Thomas has been priest in charge of St Chad's and St Alkmund's churches since September 2001, and Vicar of the new united benefice of the two churches since 2008. He also conducts ministry reviews for the Lichfield Diocese, and has been a member of General Synod since 2007. He is a Patron of the Shrewbury Summer Season Arts Festival, and of Shrewsbury's Darwin Festival, and started the St Chad's Darwin lecture in 2002. He is chaplain to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, St Chad's being the town's civic church. He is married to Keri, who is a doctor and national clinical lead for end of life care, and they have five children, the eldest being 23 and the youngest twin girls of 12. Previously Mark was Team Rector and Rural Dean in the Wakefield Diocese, and an Honorary Canon of Wakefield Cathedral.

Chris Walker, Assistant PriestChris Walker, Assistant Priest

Chris Walker began his ministry in 1970, cutting his teeth in a largely down-town, slum-clearance area in Portsmouth. After that two years in semi-rural ministry near Cambridge was a time of emotional recovery. He then worked with the Revd Austen Williams at St.Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square. This was the defining period of Chris’s life, in which his understanding of life and faith came to be earthed. Moving to parish ministry after that was not easy and his time at Sevenoaks was a sharp learning curve with lots of mistakes and pastoral upheavals. During this time he met Penny - now his wife and mother of their two daughters, Emily and Sarah, and Chris’s stepson, Dominic. Chatham in Kent was his next parish and then Chislehurst on the edges of London from where he retired in 2005.
God lives amongst the strugglers, the seekers, the lost, the failures - those on the edges and margins of life - and has always been a particular magnet for Chris. Humanity is God's stamping ground! Finally, music and walking are central in his life. Chris is an explorer by nature, and not easily satisfied with apparently simple answers.

David Leeke, director of musicDavid Leeke, director of music

David Leeke has been Organist and Director of Music at St. Chad’s since the end of 2006. He is responsible for all aspects of the church’s extensive music programme and is Artistic Director of the new annual St. Chad’s Music Festival. He is Director of the Sam Baker School of Church Music based at St. Alkmund’s (St. Chad’s sister church) and Conductor of the Shrewsbury Cantata Choir. He is also a Senior Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Co-ordinator of all activity for the Royal School of Church Music in the West Midlands. David lives with his partner, Kathryn Burningham in St. Chad’s Cottage beside the church. Kathryn is also a musician and amongst her many activities is Director of Music at University College, Oxford. David grew up at St. Chad’s, having been a chorister here under the late legendary Sam Baker before study at the Royal College of Music and spending over twenty years in Kent in different musical roles. He enjoys driving and reading and a pint of good beer in a traditional English pub!

Nicky Matthews, administratorNicky Matthews, administrator

Nicky Matthews joined St Chad’s as part-time administrator in 2004. Her previous position was as supervisor at a Calor Gas centre, where she ensured that all enquiries were warmly welcomed. Her role at St Chad’s involves taking care of the administration and day to day running of the church, working closely with the priest and church wardens. She is available to help you make arrangements for weddings, funerals, baptisms & confirmations. Nicky has lived in Shropshire all her life except for a short spell in the RAF, where she quickly realised that her free spirit did not quite meet the criteria of being a good ACW! Being married with a young family takes up most of Nicky’s time, although she does try to keep fit, in between running her son to football matches and her daughter to dance classes.

David Bromilow,
Churchwarden Selby Martin,
Churchwarden Tina Richards,
Churchwarden Viv Llewellyn,
Churchwarden

Church Wardens - 2008/2009

The church of England describes the role of a churchwarden as extremely varied but best described as management, maintenance, and ministry. Management refers to the churchwarden's releationship with the clergy, the PCC and the members of the congregation; maintenance refers to his or her responsibilities to look after the church building; and ministry refer's to their pastoral role with regard to the parish priest and to the congregation.

Derrick LanderDerrick Lander, St.John’s Hill Methodist Church, meeting at St.Chad’s

Superintendent Minister of the Shrewsbury Circuit, further information about Derrick can be found by following this link. On that page can also be found further information about Rev.Frances Biseker who is also part of the St.John’s Hill Methodist team. Frances assists with the St.Chad’s initiated series of Celtic Worship services, which take place at 7.30pm on the fifth Sunday monthly, approximately 4 times a year.