Who’s Who

Mike has been Rector of this parish since March 2014. Before this parish he served in parishes in the Diocese of Manchester and as Chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester.

As Rector Mike is responsible for leading the parish in its worship, ministry and mission. He has pastoral care for all three churches and to the wider parish. He oversees the clergy working in the parish, and convenes regular meetings with them. Mike loves to be out and about around the parish, but complains that he is too often confined inside churches and at his desk doing admin.

Mike is married to Rachel, who is also ordained and works in the parish, and father to Aidan and Logan who keep him active and firmly grounded.

From a ‘vague belief in God’ in childhood, Penny’s faith crystallised at Durham University, spending time with church-going friends and being especially impressed by Jesus’ story of the prodigal son. On her return to Reading, Penny attended Greyfriars Church, met and married husband Simon and began to feel a call to priesthood.

Ordained at Christ Church, Oxford in 2012, Penny spent four years as a curate in South Reading and living in Whitley.

As Associate Vicar at St John’s, she is tasked with leading the congregation on a journey of discovery towards a new future, so that it has a greater impact in its local community and the church grows stronger for future generations.

My husband Michael and I first attended St Peter’s in 1979 when we moved to Caversham. With periods overseas and a couple of changes of churches we came back to St Peter’s in 1995. I have sung in the choir since then.

I had careers as a science teacher, then a research scientist gaining a PhD by published works in Glycobiology. I retired in 2013 anticipating a quieter life. However, after two years of intense training I am now a part-time curate offering two days a week and Sundays to serve the people of St Peter’s and the community of CTM parish. We have three children and seven grandchildren who also keep me busy.

Phil has been LLM in this parish since December 2013, based at St. John’s Church in Gosbrook Road. Before that he worshipped at Caversham Baptist Church, opposite Waitrose.

Phil’s day job is fixing computers – often an exercise in controlled frustration. His wife, Linda, works at a local school; his son, Matt, helps create computer games in Leamington Spa; and his daughter, Sarah, is a student (so rarely seen before lunchtime) who loves dancing.

Phil is fascinated by science, computers and the Bible … and is pleased that geekiness has come into fashion. He’s also partial to real ale and good food, and is hoping to make use, as work and weather allow, of a book of pub walks he was recently given.

LLM (Licensed Lay Minister) is one of those vague TLAs that the Church of England loves.

Anthony and his wife Nicki have lived in Caversham since 2006. Along with their two sons, they joined St John’s Church in February 2018, as part of group from Greyfriars Church. Later that year Anthony joined the Ministry Team as a Licenced Lay Minister.

In his day job, Anthony works in communications and has a passion to see his skills used across the parish; clearly sharing the good news of Christ in a contemporary and relevant way.

Anna has been working in children’s ministry since 2015 after sensing a call to Christian ministry following a year volunteering with a charity overseas. She joined the team at St John’s in 2018 and loves connecting with children in the community through the different projects she is engaged with. She has a BA in French and German and is currently studying for an MA in Theology, Mission and Ministry with a specialism in Children, Youth and Families.

Ben has a degree in theology and youthwork and comes to us with eight years of youth work experience gained mostly in London churches. His role with us will be to encourage, nurture and disciple the young people within our church community. Ben will also reach out to those beyond our doors and play an active part in wider community objectives, including combatting knife crime and creating safe spaces so that young people in our community can thrive.

Ben writes: “I’m Ben! I have been a youth worker for the past eight years, working in a variety of contexts across London, while also studying a BA in youth work and theology at Oasis College, and have grown to love working with young people, to see them enter adulthood flourishing and in relationship with Jesus Christ. Some fun facts about me are: I once broke a finger playing musical chairs, I’m a twin (making me the youngest of 5 in the family), and my feet are a size different – left foot size 12, right foot size 13.”

Richard began a new term as churchwarden in 2024.

Peter was baptised at St Andrew’s Caversham in November 1954, attended St Peter’s where he was confirmed on 10th December 1966. He was a server at St Peter’s. He was married at St Peter’s in 1984. From then he was a member of St Margaret’s Mapledurham, serving on CLT and as Churchwarden 2008 to 2016. He was re-elected as Churchwarden 2021.

Peter is now retired from work having served in the police service from 1971 to 2020 that included locations of Reading, Oxford and Bermuda.

Peter returned from Bermuda in 1980 to care for his brother who was seriously disabled as a result of an industrial accident.

In 1984 Peter married Elisabeth and they have an adult daughter and son.

Peter has an allotment and enjoys growing vegetables from seeds.

Peter’s faith as a Christian came firstly from his father and then from his own reliance on the word of God through the bible. He has a favourite passage of Proverbs 3:5-6.

Karen has been the Parish Administrator since October 2024.

As Parish Administrator Karen is responsible for many different aspects of parish life: weddings; funerals; reading of banns; the electoral roll and parish directory; Parochial Church Council & Standing Committee secretarial duties; service booklets; the parish diary; DBS and reference checking; producing posters advertising parish events and lots of other stuff that crops up daily. She is also PA to the Rector.

Karen has a degree in Theology with a particular focus on Pastoral care.