Parish OfficeOrdained & Lay Staff
Clergy
Team Rector
The Revd Gary Waddington SSC
Fr Gary grew up just over 20 miles away from St Wilfrid's, in Skipton, where his Mother and siblings still live. He didn't really go to church much until I was asked to join the choir at Holy Trinity and the rest is history. From School at Ermysted's, Fr Gary went to St Chad's College at the University of Durham where he studied Biology, and from there went to test his sense of vocation, working as a pastoral assistant at a parish in London for two years.
After three years of study at St Stephen's House in Oxford, Gary went to Portsmouth to be the Curate in the Parish of Holy Spirit, Southsea. Four years later, he was appointed Vicar of Paulsgrove, a large area of significant deprivation on the northern edge of the city, where Fr Gary has been for the last 10 years.
He has also, during that time, been Succentor at Portsmouth Cathedral and been on both the deanery and diocesan synods. He has taught some theology in the Diocese and tutored candidates for ordination. The parish was also been fortunate in having a stream of ordinands on placement, learning about the priestly life in the context of urban ministry. Somewhere in all of this Fr Gary completed a further degree, sat on the DAC (which deals with church faculty applications) and has been a member of a similar group, which deals with the fabric at Portsmouth Cathedral. Gary is also a member of the Church of England's Liturgical Commission (which amongst other things is responsible for all the Common Worship books) and co-chairs one of the national groups for Fresh Expressions.
Spare time is taken up with music, modern art, cooking and a great interest in Modern British and American Politics.
Team Vicar
This post is currently vacant whilst an appointment is made.
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 now the Bishop of Horsham.
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.