Parish OfficeOrdained & Lay Staff
Clergy
Team Rector
The Revd Mark Sowerby BD AKC MA
On 25th July Mark became the new Bishop of Horsham
The process of appointing a new Team rector has now commenced
Fr Mark was born in 1963 and was ordained in 1987 after reading theology at King's College, London and training at The College of The Resurrection at Mirfield. He served as curate first in Knaresborough and then in Darwen and Tockholes (where there are said to be treacle mines). From there he went to be Vicar of St Mary Magalen's, Accrington and chaplain to a C of E High School as well as to Accrington Victoria Hospital, until 1997 when he joined the staff of the Ministry Division of The Archbishops' Council as a Selection Secretary and the Church of England's national Vocations Officer. He came to Harrogate in 2001 and was instituted as Vicar of St Wilfrid's on Holy Cross Day, becoming Team Rector in 2004. He has served as Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands since 2005 and is a member of The General Synod of the Church of England. He is additionally a member of the Council of The College of The Resurrection, Mirfield, a member of the Church of England's Ministry Council and a Bishops' Inspector of Theological Colleges & Courses. Fr Mark is married to Ruth and they have three daughters at secondary school.
Team Vicar
The Revd John Thompson-Vear SSC MA
Currently Acting Team Rector
Fr John trained for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford, taking the University's degree in theology in 2002. Before college, he spent a year working as a pastoral assistant at St Mary Magdalene's, inner city Sunderland and, on ordination in 2003, served a 3 year curacy in the largely suburban parish of the Ascension, Plymouth. Fr John joined the Royal Navy as a Chaplain in 2006, training at BRNC, Dartmouth. Deployed mainly with warships at sea over the last 2 years, he has travelled widely and served operationally in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Iraq. As a Vicar in the Team, Fr John has particular responsibility for the Jennyfield/Killinghall Moor area of the parish. He is married to Ruth and they have three young daughters. The Bishop of Ripon & Leeds, The Rt Revd John Packer, licensed Fr John at St Wilfrid's on Monday 15th September 2008.
Assistant Curate (NSM)
The Revd Tim Burrell JP
Fr Tim was born in 1943. He trained for ministry at St Stephen's House, Oxford and was ordained Deacon in 1974 and served a curacy at Haltwhistle in Northumberland. It was, however, not until 2007 that he was ordained priest in St Wilfrid's where he is a non-stipendiary Curate. Fr Tim is a retired civil servant and now serves as a magistrate. He is married to Jill and they have adult children.
Retired Clergy
The Revd Gareth Jones
Fr Gareth was born in 1935 trained for the priestood at St Aidan's College in Birkenhead and has held parish posts in the Sheffield and Ripon & Leeds dioceses but spent much of his ministry either as an RAF chaplain or running the counselling service at the Anglican Cathedral in Hong Kong. In retirement Fr Gareth serves as an Assistant Priest at St Wilfrid's and is presently Regional Dean of Forward in Faith. Fr Gareth is married to Joan and they have three adult children.
The Revd Geoffrey Sowerby
Fr Geoffrey was born in 1935 and like Fr Gareth, he trained in Birkenhead. He served in urban & Rural parishes in the Ripon & Edinburgh dioceses and was Bishop's Advisor on the Ministry of Deliverance. In retirement, Fr Geoffrey serves as an Assistant Priest at St Wilfrid's. He is married to Hilary and they have three adult sons – one of whom is the Team Rector.
Lay Staff
Parish Administrator
Mrs Linda Harrison
Linda, originally from Sussex, has experience working for the Post Office and more recently in middle management for Marks & Spencer. On retirement from M&S, she joined the staff of St Wilfrids in 2007. Linda is married to Graham and their grown up son is presently a student.
Verger
Mrs Jane Gill
Jane, like the Rector, studied at King's College, London, but her discipline is law. Jane joined the staff of St Wilfrid's after a career in the management of busy magistrates courts. She is married to Paul, a theology graduate, who teaches RS at Harrogate Ladies' College, where he is Deputy Head of Sixth Form. They have two daughters, one who is a student and the other at school.