Our Team 

Jack has taught History in an Oxford college, worked at an investment bank in London and then trained at Ripon College in Cuddesdon where he also worked with suicidal and vulnerable prisoners in a large London prison. Ordained in 2011, Jack has served his title in a large and active parish in West London, as Chaplain and Welfare Officer for an Oxford college and as Priest-in-Charge in a parish in East London. He became the Rector of Wanstead in 2016.

For Richard, the call to ordained ministry came towards the end of a varied career in accountancy and he joined our ministry team on ordination in 2006. With an interest in small groups as a supplement to formal worship, he is the driving force behind a number of adult nurture groups in our parish. In addition to his church duties, Richard also serves on the board of a substantial benevolent association.

Ann felt called to the priesthood aged just 14 and, 37 years and a teaching career later, this calling was finally fulfilled. Ann served her title at St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook followed by eight years as Team Rector of Becontree South in Dagenham. She then became Priest-in-Charge of North Bersted in the Diocese of Chichester and an Honorary Canon of Chichester Cathedral.  

Tom joined the parish as Assistant Curate after finishing his ministerial training and was ordained in July 2019. He studied History at Leeds University, before working as a pastoral assistant at St Albans Cathedral and subsequently as a teaching assistant.

Tom loves music, watching films and reading novels, and walks in the countryside.

Olive has been actively involved in the parish for a number of years. She became a Licensed Reader in 2009 after theological training at St Mellitus College, becoming Licensed Lay Minister in 2015. With a spiritual focus on the mission of the church, her other interests include playing the organ, travel and attending arts events.

Following a long period as a full-time carer, in 2013 Celia felt the call to train first as a Retail Chaplain and then as a Pastoral Assistant to deepen her involvement in our parish. She is strongly committed to multi-faith outreach and also enjoys working with the elderly, at our two Bereavement Cafes, and with the Crown Court Chaplaincy team in Snaresbrook.

As a lifelong worshipper in Wanstead Parish, Jan has worked as a general nurse, managed a large city dental practice and has been employed in a local school. She also ran the 1st Wanstead Guide unit, attached to Christ Church for over 25 years. She is now the first point of contact for our Baptism, Thanksgiving and Wedding families.

Lorraine left her career in banking to bring up her children, starting to attend Christ Church when her first son was a few months old. She has been involved in numerous aspects of the church ever since, from running Nursery Church to arranging flowers for weddings. Lorraine helped to set up and run the parish office.

Lauren has been an active member of the Christ Church congregation for over twenty years. For the past twelve years she has worked at Wanstead Church School as a classroom assistant.  As our Hall Bookings Manager she is responsible for arranging and overseeing all group and individual bookings as well as maintaining the smooth running of the halls.

An active member of the parish for over a quarter of a century, Ralph has served on several parish committees. Having previously been churchwarden based at Christ Church, Ralph began attending St Mary’s on completing his term.

Ralph’s professional life was as a photographer, working mainly with advertising agencies.

Sue studied at Trinity College of Music and the Royal College of Music before working as a professional freelance flautist and teacher. She continues to teach at many schools in the area. Sue organises and runs our highly popular Jazz Vespers service.

Avril worked as a Primary School Head Teacher until her retirement in 2015, but retirement didn’t mean an end to responsibility. Avril plays an active and vital role in the life of our parish, while she is also a Governor of both Wanstead Church School and another school in Barking & Dagenham.

A longstanding member of our community, Margaret has a background in social work and has sat on both the Mental Health Tribunal and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals. She acts as the Vulnerable Adults Lead on our Safeguarding Committee.

Deborah has retired from a varied career in education, teaching at all levels from pre-school to 16+ and adults. Her experience also includes the provision of quality assurance for special educational and disability needs.

Natalie’s career in primary education began in 2005, firstly as a class teacher and later as a Phase Leader in an outstanding school in Essex. She went on to complete a period of time as Assistant Head and then Acting Head of a school with serious weaknesses in Havering. She then became the Deputy Headteacher of an outstanding school in Havering, which was rated one of London’s top 10 schools, before becoming the Headteacher of a primary school in Essex, which secured a “Good” Ofsted judgement under her leadership.

Pen has lived in Wanstead for 36 years and her three daughters all attended Wanstead Church School. Since retiring from her senior management post at the NHS, she has been more involved in local activities including six years as Church Warden – a stint that included overseeing the installation of the new roof at Christ Church. Pen still sings in the parish choir, while outside the parish she volunteers as a welcomer at the Westfield Rest and Faith Space.

Martin is the Assistant Organist for Wanstead parish. He worked for 33 years in an Insurance Company in the City until he retired in 2014. He is married to Sandra and has two children. He is a keen musician and plays the organ at both St Mary’s and at Christ Church. He has been a member of Christ Church since 2010 and also sings in the choir. When singing in the choir, you may notice a four legged companion by his side; this will be the latest Guide Dog Puppy that he is training.

Barbara is the Youth Champion for our parish. With four daughters aged between 10 and 24 Barbara has volunteered with many of the children and young people’s groups in the parish. In her spare time, outside her role as a Director of Clinical Development at GlaxoSmithKline, Barbara is vice chair of the Miscarriage Association charity.

Joe is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and is currently a PhD student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Joe performs regularly as a continuo player, recently with ensembles such as Ex Cathedra, the London Handel Orchestra, English Touring Opera, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. He is also an assistant conductor of the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain.

Jill has been a member of Christ Church since 2010 and with Mary Shaw serves as the PCC Treasurer. She has worked in accounting and finance in New York and London and now resides and works in Wanstead with her husband and their two children. Jill and her family enjoy travelling, especially back to the US, where she grew up, to visit family and friends.

Tom joined us in 2017 to assist in the Parish office with the Financial administration. Tom is enjoying a busy retirement after a varied career. An early life at sea was followed by a career in engineering, including lecturing in Marine Electronics at London Electronics College, engineering projects both in the UK and overseas and developing a mobile communications network in the UK. In recent years Tom has worked as a part-time consultant on various business development projects.

Originally from Sydney Australia, Peter enjoyed an 18 year career in Finance (6 years of which were in Germany) before stepping off the treadmill to begin a new phase in life; family first. Having joined our Parish over a decade ago, life highlights include marrying in Christ Church in 2010, followed by the baptisms of his two children in 2013 & 2017. Peter has been Parish Secretary since April 2018.

A member of Wanstead Parish for over thirty years, having moved down from Cambridge to pursue a career in the City, Jem has been an active participant in the choir, a past (and sometimes current) bell ringer and one of the original members of the Friends Committee. He has worshipped in – and supported – both churches but most regularly attends services at St Mary’s, where he performs various roles including reading the lesson, intercessions, sidesman, cleaning and general dogsbody as required.

David has lived in Wanstead for 35 years but only joined Wanstead Parish in March 2018, having previously worshipped and served at All Saints Woodford Wells. Both he and his wife Margaret are retired from teaching and wanted to use their time and gifts to serve God in a local church and community. David most recently taught at Leyton Sixth Form College where he was a middle manager. He is particularly involved in the Prayer Group, Farmers Market stall and our 9am Sunday morning family eucharist service.

As Safeguarding Representative, Suzi calls upon her career as a professional indemnity solicitor in Australia (including pro-bono work for ACT for Kids) and her career as a primary school teacher in London. Suzi moved to London with her husband in 2012 and is now a mother to two young children.  She coordinates volunteers for Christ Church’s Family Eucharist and is also a Parent Champion of local Redbridge Children’s Centres and volunteers for Wanstead Church School. You are most likely to find Suzi busy with activities for her children while sipping a much needed coffee.