TEAM RECTOR OF DOVER TOWN: Reverend Melissa Carter
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TEAM VICAR OF ST MARY-THE-VIRGIN: Currently vacant
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Melissa felt called to be a priest in her late teens, but before training was encouraged to get some life experience. After working as a legal secretary Melissa was ordained in 2016 and joined the Dover Town Team in September 2019. In their spare time they enjoy walking and exploring the countryside.
As Team Rector, Melissa is responsible for leading the church teams of the Dover Town Benefice, including St Mary's, St Martin's, St Andrew's and St Peter and St Paul's (Charlton). Melissa has particular pastoral responsibility for St Andrew's and St Peter and St Paul (Charlton), in Dover and will be working across the team to offer support and encouragement in developing a prayerful life within the community, and spiritual growth within schools, families, and children services. |
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Reverend Trish Godfrey
Trish was born in Dover and attended Dover Grammar School for Girls. She worked as a librarian in throughout East Kent before taking early retirement in 2007. She is married to Mike and has two children and grandchildren.
Trish’s faith was nurtured in the Methodist Church and a house church before joining St Martin’s Dover in the 1980’s where she was licensed a Lay Reader in 1994. She then felt called to the priesthood and was ordained priest in 2005, becoming a self-supporting priest at St Mary’s.
Trish has permission to officiate (PTO) and has particular responsibility for Wednesday morning Holy Communion and Children's Corner. |
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Reverend Angie Stupple
Angie was born and grew up in Ireland, in a small town called Athy, which is about 50 miles south of Dublin. Her faith was nurtured in the Catholic Church.
Angie first came to Dover aged 18 and hasn't looked back! She first visited St Mary’s church when a friend invited her to join her at the Christmas morning service many years ago. When she walked through the door and it immediately felt like she had ‘come home’.
A period of interregnum at St Mary's brought about a huge turning point and offered many opportunities. As a result, Angie became a server, led some non-eucharistic services and engaged in home groups and pastoral care. She went on to train to become a Reader and eventually went through the discernment process for ordination. Angie was deaconed in September 2020 and ordained a year later.
Angie currently focuses on Hospice Chaplaincy at Pilgrims Hospice, Canterbury. She has PTO status (permission to officiate) and presides in churches in the Dover Town Benefice and wider local area. |
Team Vicar, St Martin's: Reverend Claire Coleman
Claire joined the Dover Town team ministry in September 2024, having completed a three year curacy in Ramsgate.
Claire loves walking alongside people, building relationships and faith.
She loves cooking and offering hospitality, playing games, doing escape rooms, enjoying beautiful walks, building LEGO and going to the cinema and theatre with friends.
Claire has particular pastoral responsibility for St. Martin's, Dover and will be working across the team to offer support and encouragement in the mission and outreach of our churches.
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Churchwarden: Lindsay Powell-Williams
Lindsay is one of our Churchwardens.
Churchwardens are the Bishop’s lay officers responsible directly to her for the life and work of the church in the parish. Responsibilities laid upon them from time to time by the Bishop, or by the Archdeacon and the Area Dean, include ensuring the maintenance of the building, arranging for services to be taken in an interregnum and acting as ex-officio members of the PCC.
Lindsay has been part of St Mary's family for many years and has also been a member of the bell-ringing team and choir.
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Churchwarden: James Francis
James is one of our Churchwardens and has been a member of the St Mary's church family for many years.
In addition to those responsibilities, he also leads our team of servers who support our clergy in our services. |
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Director of Music: Jake Convery
Jake Convery began their musical life singing in church choirs at St James the Great, Congleton, later taking up the organ at 15. They have played for worship in a range of churches in the UK and abroad, including posts in Southbourne, Malaysia, London, Madrid, and Canterbury.
Jake studied Music at Canterbury Christ Church University, where they directed the chapel choir, accompanied services including Evensong and carol services at Canterbury Cathedral, and continued further study of the organ with Christopher Gower, formerly Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral and a noted composer. They became Director of Music at St Mary’s in 2023.
Jake is committed to building a strong musical community, drawing on contemporary choral music, Renaissance polyphony, and the English choral tradition. They have a particular love of plainsong and often use plainsong themes when improvising organ voluntaries.
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Parish Centre Manager: Trish Simmons
Trish has been Parish Centre Manager since October 2019 looking after those who hire areas within the centre for their events. Trish is also one of the senior leaders of St Mary's Little Lambs Parent and Carer Toddler Group, and St Mary's Little Shining Lights which is a young children's Christian worship group.
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