Rector
Rector
I am the Rector of the Overton Benefice. I am married to Annabel and we have three adult children. My heartfelt desire is that all people in our villages and local communities might hear and respond to the good news of Jesus. I truly believe that in him our deepest desires for love, joy, hope and peace are found. Outside of church ministry you are likely to find me either on a bike, listening to Bob Dylan, reading a book or supporting West Ham United.
Associate Clergy
Associate Clergy
From the 1950s for 20 years, Ken was a tea planter in what is now Malawi. He was ordained a Deacon of the church there. Returning to the UK, he was priested during his Curacy (1976‐80) at Hartley Wintney. He had his own parish at Fair Oak until he retired to Overton in 1995. Ken has 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
Associate Minister
Associate Minister
Recently married to Bethan, Charlie ‘doubles up’ as a Self Supporting Distinctive Deacon (he can explain) and a Chartered Surveyor in the Rural Sector. He is developing his DIY skills restoring a redundant Church in Devon, but is restricted to demolition rather than construction after previous upsets! Whilst he lives in Laverstoke he leads services across the Benefice. He is easily recognisable as it appears his head is on upside down.
Church Warden
Church Warden
A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Stuart works in the Industrial Gases industry as the European Process Safety Manager for a large multi-national company. He has been churchwarden since 2021 and supported various church activities including the audio visual team since moving to the village in 1998. While not working or supporting church activities you will probably find him out on his bike!
Church Warden
Church Warden
A General Practitioner in the Army, Mike currently runs the Headquarters which manages 15 Defence Primary Healthcare Medical Centres across Central England and Wessex, and is the Doctor in charge of recruiting Gurkhas in Nepal. He moved to the village in 2020 with his young family and has been churchwarden since 2021, as well as being married in and having two Christenings at St Mary’s. He enjoys his time with the family, walking the dog, the allotment, stargazing, and travelling.
Administrator
Administrator
A mum with 3 mostly grown up children, and married to Stuart, Ruth has lived in Overton for over 20 years. She has filled the role of church administrator since June 2003 and also works as a freelance Editorial Assistant on a peer review journal. She co-ordinates and teaches in the children’s Sunday groups, and leads a homegroup. Outside of church she volunteers with the local community swimming pool, Overton Taekwondo Club and on camping trips with the Scouts.
Licensed Lay Minister
Licensed Lay Minister
A Chartered Engineer, who worked in the electronics industry until retirement, Pete was Licensed as a Lay Minister in 2005 at Winchester. As well as supporting the incumbent by way of preaching and leading services, Pete enjoys playing guitar in the worship band, leading a home group and various other church related activities. Married to Linda, Pete has 3 sons and 6 grandchildren.
Licensed Lay Minister
Licensed Lay Minister
Licensed since 2006, a retired Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in tunnels and Hydropower who worked with the Christian mission Interserve in Nepal for 13 years. As well as leading and preaching in churches in the benefice Mike supports the Basingstoke Nepali Church where he preaches from time to time. He leads a home group, does ‘Open the Book’ in school and plays saxophone in the worship band. He is married to Helen with 2 sons, a daughter and 6 grandchildren.
Pastoral Assistant
Pastoral Assistant
‘Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love’ (Mother Teresa).
Seasons change; in this season I lead the Prayer Ministry Team, belong to the group in our Benefice exploring the 3 year ‘Growing Rural Parishes Project’, am a member of the preaching team and am pursuing a 3-year course for formation of Spiritual Directors.
Treasurer
Treasurer
In 2018 I moved to Overton with my wife, Ginnie. We are both involved with activities for children in the church on Sundays, and at village events. I retired as a Reader in Evidence Based Medicine at St George’s Hospital in London in 2020 and took on the job of church treasurer (now halfway through my second three-year term). We enjoy walking, cycling and seeing our four grandchildren.
Pastoral Assistant
Pastoral Assistant
A retired Chartered Engineer and physicist who worked on aeroengines and as an academic in the Physics Department at Reading University. On retirement in 2010, Mo became churchwarden here for a period and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology. She enjoys her ministry of welcoming and integrating newcomers, Pastoral Visiting, facilitating a Home Group and a social art and craft group, being part of the AV team and leading Mindfulness sessions. Married to Mike, a bellringer, she has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Pastoral Care Team Leader
Pastoral Care Team Leader
My main role at St Mary’s is as Pastoral Care Team Leader. There are a number of us in the team that support and visit people in the church and community, and we also run the Bereavement Journey Course regularly too. I keep busy with church Women’s and Social events as well as my work as a counsellor. In my spare time I enjoy walking our little dog, cycling, swimming and paddle-boarding. If you would like a Pastoral Visit, do contact me.
Find out more about our church and how you can get involved.