Our Vicars and the Team
Our Vicars
Rev Simon Moore
Rev Louise Moore
Simon and Louise were licensed as our Vicars in July 2022. ‘Officially’, Simon is our Priest in Charge and Louise is our Associate Vicar.
Before coming to the Benefice, Simon and Louise were the job sharing Rectors and Deanery leads for Leadership in the parish of Sutton St Helens in the Diocese of St Albans.
Simon trained for the ministry at St Johns College, Nottingham and Louise on the St Albans and Oxford ministerial training course and they ministered in four different parishes in Hertfordshire before moving to St Helens.
In addition to their roles as Vicars, Simon is training as a pastoral supervisor and works to encourage and train people in preaching; Louise runs her own counselling and pastoral supervision practice.
Before they were ordained, Simon was a secondary school teacher and Louise an occupational therapist. They worked for 2 years in Kenya and 5 years in Zimbabwe.
Simon and Louise have 3 daughters, a grandson and 2 dogs.
When Simon and Louise were first appointed as our Vicars they recorded this video introducing themselves to their new parishioners.
Simon and Louise’s Contact Details
01525 643478 RevSimon@3churches.uk RevLouise@3churches.uk
(Simon and Louise usually have Monday as their day off)
Our Reader
Gillian Kern
I was licensed as a Reader in 2017 in St Albans. I spent my working life in a range of roles in special schools and local education authority education departments.
I have lived in the Benefice for over 30 years worshipping at all three churches. I enjoyed my 18 years as music director of the 3 Churches Choir and the time I spent as a member of Flitton PCC. I’ve been a member of Pulloxhill PCC for over 10 years.
Since being licensed I’ve divided my time between the Benefice, volunteering as a prison chaplain and assisting the chaplain at a local care home.
I enjoy gardening, riding my horse Cameroon and sailing with my husband on our traditional Norfolk Broad’s yacht Pavane.
Gillian’s Contact Details:
01525 718639 gkern3268@gmail.com
Our Lay Leaders of Worship
Margaret Butt
I’ve been a Lay Leader of Worship since 2017, and was a Churchwarden at Flitton for many year.
At Flitton, I have taken Morning Worship but mostly I lead our monthly Café Church. For that, which is very informal, I do a short reflection on a huge variety of subjects ranging from the background of well known hymns and parables, to having light hearted discussions about many things. I also take a monthly assembly at Greenfield Academy. I regularly do the prayers or intercessions at all services.
Liz Coulson
I have worshipped in the Benefice for the last few years and have previously worshipped at Churches of various denominations. I grew up going to Sunday School, became a Christian when I was 17 and later walked away, but came back to faith after going to my Grandfather’s funeral and realising God had not given up on me. I live with my husband David in Pulloxhill, am a keen embroiderer and like watching wildlife.
I completed the Lay Leader of Worship Training in 2021 and I feel privileged to be able to serve and help out in this capacity.
Maggie Jeeves
I have been a member of Silsoe PCC for some years and volunteer as Weddings Administrator across our Benefice. In 2017, I was privileged to be authorised as a Lay Leader of Worship.
St. James Church, Silsoe is important to me as my grandfather and uncle were churchwardens; my grandmother and Dad played the organ; and Mum and Dad met in Silsoe Church Choir – where my siblings and I also sang. Dad was also Ringing Captain for many years of the Silsoe Bell Ringers; a hobby I share – exercise for the brain and the body!
Maggie’s Contact Details:
07769 557508 weddings@3churches.uk
Jo Holt
Jo is the Churchwarden at St John the Baptist, Flitton and completed her Lay Leader of Worship training in 2021.
Local Clergy regularly helping
Rev Anne Barker
I began my career as a scientist, whilst also being a Lay Reader in a village church. I was Ordained in 1999, and worked in a very large urban priority area in Colchester. At the same time I was also an Army Padre for 16 Close Support Medical Regiment, a para unit. In 2008 I moved to the Staffordshire Moorlands, where I was Rector of 5 very rural parishes, as well as Padre for 22 Signals (Gurkhas). Following my marriage to Bob, we relocated to Clifton and Southill Benefice in this Deanery, then in 2015 I began a new post as Vicar of 5 rural parishes in Peterborough Diocese. The Healing and Deliverance Ministry has always been a significant part of my wider role. We returned to our own house in Wardhedges to spend more time with the family and I am now a prison chaplain.
Rev Anna Garvie
Licensed as a Lay Reader in 1991, I was appointed to All Saints, Caddington and was also part of the Chaplaincy Team at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. In 1996 I was Ordained in St Alban’s Cathedral and served my title in Caddington and St Paul’s Walden at the same time as being Chaplain to Milton Keynes and Barnet Hospitals. I then went on to be a Chaplain at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital before becoming the Lead Chaplain at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for ten years.
On retirement I moved to Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough and then to NHS Borders in Scotland. In 2019 my husband, Gordon, and I moved to Silsoe to be closer to our daughter and her family. Our son is also ordained and is married with a young family. A significant part of my time now is spent supporting others on their spiritual journeys.
Churchwarden
Jo Holt
Contact details:
01525 792777
jo_holt@sky.com
Safeguarding Officer
Fiona Catlin
Contact details:
01525 8602777
fiona.m.catlin@gmail.com
Churchwardens
Duncan Robb
Contact details:
07957 488456
Brian Brown
Contact details:
07808 218789
brianbrown61@btinternet.com
Safeguarding Officer
Gillian Kern
Contact details:
01525 718639
gkern3268@gmail.com
Churchwardens
Jill Liddle
Contact details:
01525 860117
gillian.liddle3@gmail.com
Simon Stranks
Contact details:
07484 818418
simon.stranks@3churches.uk
Safeguarding Officer
Elaine Couzens
Contact details:
01525 860132
SilsoeSafeguarding@3churches.uk