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Richard, Alison, Tony and Ian with Bishop Mark (centre)

We are fortunate to be served by five retired clergy people, whom we share with St Columba's, Grantown.

 

The Venerable Richard Gillings and his family have been regular visitors to St John's for over 30 years. On retirement from his post as Archdeacon of Macclesfield in the Diocese of Chester, the family moved permanently to Boat of Garten and Richard joined the Ministry team at St John's alongside Revd Roddy Shaw, Revd Jenny Jones and Revd Patricia Lockhart. 

Sadly Patricia and Roddy both passed away  suddenly but we have been blessed with  further additions to the clergy team (see below)

 

 

 

Revd Jenny Jones retired to Newtonmore from Edinburgh. Jenny says,

'Although originally from Yorkshire, my heart has always been in the Highlands. However, the journey here has taken me from Kent to Uganda, then Durham and Edinburgh. The 8 years in Uganda with the Church Mission Society were certainly the most formative - both joyful and challenging.

And now, the privilege of a quieter ministry of living, praying and serving in Newtonmore.'

Jenny runs a home group on Tuesdays in Newtonmore. She also complies the Diocesan Prayer cycle and the weekly prayer diary for St Johm's and St Columba's.

 

 

 

 

Revd Alison Hart and her family retired to Carrbridge from the Northeast of England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canon Tony Sparham and his wife  retired to the area and after spending almost a year in Tomintoul, they have settled in Grantown-on-Spey.

Tony comes from Lincolnshire originally and qualified as a teacher before entering the ministry. He served in the Bradford Diocese, the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich before moving to the Chester Diocese.  After retiring to  Shropshire, he and his finally wife moved to the Highlands in 2016 to be close to family. 

 

 

 

 

Revd Ian Sykes (Ian has retired 'again' but still worships with us. He also takes services in other churches in the Dioocese)

Ian says, “Having been in ministry in Northamptonshire, Oxford, just north of Salisbury and West Devon, and finally a part time post in Breamore, Hampshire ( important Saxon Church with a famous collection of family Hatchments )  Susan and I came north to enjoy, permanently, the Highlands. We have holidayed many years in the vicinity, staying with a relative of Susan’s in Kincraig.”

 

 

 

 

 

At St John's, we also have two lay people who assist in leading services.

 Deborah Munday  lives in Dalwhinnie with her husband. Deborah says,

'We moved to Dalwhinnie, arriving in a blizzard in February 2010. Prior to the move I had been part of the Ministry Team in Tring Team Parish. I studied theology with St John's Nottingham graduating in Chester in 2014. I worked part time at Dalwhinnie Distillery, in my spare time I'm secretary and councillor for Dalwhinnie Community Council, and involved with Cairngorm RDA. Angus and I have a Harris Hawk and three dogs to keep us busy. I love sharing my faith with our wonderful church family at St John's.' Deborah is also president of the Mothers' Union.

 

 

Anne Bridgen lives  in Newtonmore with her husband.

Anne says, " I first made a commitment to Christ in my teens when in an evangelical church in Reigate. Since then I have been additionally influenced by charismatic and comtemplative groups, and am a Companion of the Northumbria Community. I also have a longstanding interest in the ministry of Christian Healing and will happily pray with anyone who asks. By profession I was a research virologist, but now manage holiday cottages and an art gallery/ working glass studio in Kingussie"