Revd. A. Ward-Jones, MA., BA., M.Phil

Bristol Methodist District Chairman

Born and grew up in the West Midlands 

University Studies at Cambridge, London, Westminster Institute and UCW Aberystwyth 

Served as a Methodist minister in  1976-81 Clitheroe (Lancashire),  1981-92 Wootton Bassett (near Swindon) and 1992-98 Frome (Somerset)

 District Chairman since 1998 

 Special Areas of Interest - health and healing; new ways of being church; exploring priorities with local church leaders

 Hobbies - cricket, football and rugby; gardening; and exploring South West Wales

 Family::-   Wife - Linda, who manages the Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults Museum.          Three grown up children, Ned, Tom and Rosie 

Revd. David Grosch-Miller, BA

United Reformed Church, South Western Synod Moderator

Born in Gateshead and, after school, worked in the building supply trade.  Active in youth work within the then Congregational Church, received a call to full time ministry and trained at the Congregational College, Manchester receiving a degree from the Victoria University of Manchester. 

After pastorates in Bradford (1975 - 85) and Roundhay, Leeds (1985 – 2002) in West Yorkshire became Moderator of the South Western Synod of the United Reformed Church in 2002. Special areas of interest have been the interface between churches and their local communities and the Middle East . 

For most of my ministry I have been on the Governing Body of one school or another.  Married to Carla who, until we married, was Senior Pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in Oak Park on the western edge of Chicago . Carla is now on the staff of STETS (Southern Theological Education Training Scheme) in Salisbury . Between us we have three children who think themselves grown up, Paul, Susan and Katja and one new grandchild Jake. 

Hobbies include walking the South West coastal path, films, theatre and remaining a faithful if often frustrated supporter of Newcastle United F.C.

Revd. Christopher Cory

69 Queen's Road,     Devizes,    SN10 5HR    

e-mail; superintendent@mid-wiltsunitedchurches.org.uk

I was born and grew up in Newport, South Wales. Worked for British Telecom for nearly twenty years.   I trained for the Methodist ministry at Wesley College, Bristol 1991 – 1993.     My first appointment was to the then Stour Vale Circuit in the West Midlands  (The Black Country) and then in 1998 we moved to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and spent five very happy years before moving to Devizes and the Mid-Wilts United Area.     Babs and I were married in 1970 and we have two children and two grandchildren. Interests?       Being where God wants me to be and listening to what he’s saying.    I love being a Methodist minister and all that it entails.     I enjoy trying to play golf and tennis.    I enjoy the challenges of being a husband, father and grandfather.    I believe being a Christian should be challenging, exciting and fun. Jesus said he came to bring us life in all its fullness! I am Passionate about the church being where the people are, and that we should be a ‘going’ church as opposed to a ‘come to us’ and take every opportunity to break the image that many people have of the church as being dull, boring and irrelevant.   We have wonderful ‘ Good News ’ to share with people.    The ‘Good News ’ that God loves them and they can know that life changing love for themselves through a relationship with Jesus.   Chris. is currently the Chairman of the mid-Wilts United Area of churches, acting as both Methodist Circuit Superintendent and President of the URC District Council..

Revd. Roy Fowler

38 Horsebrook Park, Calne SN11 8EY

e-mail:  areachairman@mid-wiltsunitedchurches.org.uk

Roy Fowler was ordained to the United Reformed Church Ministry in 1981 after training at the Congregational College in Manchester and gaining both a Certificate in Biblical Knowledge and a degree in Theology from the University of Manchester.  His first pastorate was in the North Devon Group of Churches from 1981 to 1986.  After that he ministered to Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett URCs from 1986 to 1995 (both in Local Covenant LEPs).  In 1995 he moved to be a minister in the West Wilts United Area with oversight of Warminster United Church, Westbury  Methodist Church and Westbury URC.  From 2000 to 2006, he was Minister of Hall Green and Olton URCs in the Birmingham Area.  Roy was Ecumenical Officer for the West Midlands Synod for nearly five years.  He has also been involved in the selection of ministers at both Synod and National level.

Roy enjoys the pastoral side of ministry.  He lays importance on the careful preparation for worship and preaching.  He continues to read theology as he believes that the gospel needs to be re-interpreted for each new generation.  Roy also sees the church in a time of transition as we learn again how to share the gospel in our society. He is committed to working ecumenically whenever possible.  He thinks that ministry is for the community as much as for the church and that the church and its members are called to give expression to the gospel in the whole of life.

Roy enjoys trying to play golf, music, walking, reading and watching cricket. Roy is married to Christine who is also a United Reformed Church minister.  They have one grown up daughter, Susan.

Revd. Di Whittall

10 Dean Close,   Melksham,     SN12 7EZ. 

Revd Di Whittall is a non-stipendiary Minister with the Mid Wilts United Area where she was ordained in July 1993.  Di. has given her time to the Area mainly on preaching appointments and Child Protection Issues.  Di. is also the Synod Link Person for Child Protection. 

Di. has also been part-time Chaplain at Melksham Community Hospital since December 1992 but will soon be resigning from this post to take over as the full-time Co-ordinating Chaplain at HMP Erlestoke where she has worked as a part-time Free Church Chaplain since September 1998.  Di. also works as a Trained Counsellor in private practice and free-lance trainer in the area of Childhood Abuse.  Di. lives in Melksham and has five adult children and one grandson."

Awaiting Picture

Awaiting picture

Revd. Hazel Allen,  BSc

Chilvester Lodge,   Chilvester Hill,     Calne,    SN11 0LP

e-mail;  habaridgeway.uk@virgin.net

(information awaited)