We are part of the Wallingford Team Ministry, together with the Parishes of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and Crowmarsh Gifford. This page introduces you to a few of the important people in our ministry.
Team Rector – Reverend David Rice has been Rector in Wallingford since 2000. He is married with two daughters and a new grandson. Although David has overall responsibility for the Benefice, his main day-to-day focus is in Wallingford at the churches of St Mary-le-More and St Leonard. He was appointed Area Dean of the Wallingford Deanery in 2017 by Bishop Colin of Dorchester. The Wallingford Deanery includes Didcot (St Peter’s, All Saints’, Great Western Park and Ladygrove), Harwell, Chilton, Cholsey, Moulsford, East Hagbourne, Blewbury, Upton, South & North Morton, Aston Tirrold & Aston Upthorpe, as well as Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford & Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. David can be reached at 01491 202188 or rector@marylemore.co.uk.
Team Vicar – Reverend Kevin Beer focuses on the parishes of Crowmarsh Gifford (St Mary Magdalene’s) and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell (St Agatha’s and St James’) within the Wallingford Team. For more information on these parishes see http://www.wallingfordcofe.org.uk. He can be reached by email at teamvicar@wallingfordcofe.org.uk.
Lay Ministers and Lay Preachers – There are a number of retired clergy and others with Permission To Officiate, as well as lay preachers, who all help to provide the variety of services we offer.
Churchwardens – We have two churchwardens, who are elected every year at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). Their term of office is one year, and they may serve for up to six consecutive terms of office, unless the Annual Meeting passes a resolution to set aside this rule. They are the Bishop’s officers and are admitted to office each year by the Archdeacon, on behalf of the Bishop. Their first responsibility is to the Bishop, usually via the Archdeacon. They, with the Team Rector, are generally responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the parish. Our current churchwardens are Roger Morgan and Mrs Christine Dawson.
Children & Families Worker
Rhonda Sparrey has a part-time role looking at services and activities, with the aim of finding new ways of involving children and families in the life of our church. Rhonda is married to Paul and they have three wonderful children. She joined the church team in September 2017 and when Rhonda is not working for St Mary’s, she is a dancer and dance tutor. Rhonda likes nothing better than spending time with her family and friends, having adventures and walking their dog, Millie.
For an overview of the activities involving children, click here.
Director of Music & Organist
Our Director of Music, Judith Ward, leads our robed choir and plays the pipe organ for our main Sunday Service at 10:00 at St Mary’s as well as Sunday Evensong at 18:30 at St Leonard’s.For more information on the choir, click here.
Safeguarding Officer
Our Safeguarding Officer is Jacqui Norbury. She is the first point-of-call for anyone within the church who has safeguarding concerns; she is also responsible for ensuring that our policy and procedures for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults are adhered to and that people who interface with children & vulnerable adults receive suitable training. Please contact her at stmarywallsafeguarding@gmail.com or 01491 835779
Parochial Church Council (PCC)
Members of the PCC are trustees of the charity of ‘The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary-le-More & All Hallows with St Leonard & St Peter, Wallingford’.
It is the body that, with the minister, steers the life of the church in its mission, witness and service in the parish. The PCC consists of the Rector, two churchwardens, four Deanery Synod representatives and 13 elected lay representatives of the Electoral Roll. The PCC and especially its Treasurer manage the church finances which cover our portion of the Diocesan Parish Share, the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings as well as donations to the charities we support. We are a not for profit organisation.