{"id":3486,"date":"2021-10-21T13:26:03","date_gmt":"2021-10-21T13:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/?page_id=3486"},"modified":"2026-03-17T14:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:12:01","slug":"meet-the-team-new","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/?page_id=3486","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vicar  – Reverend David Keen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

David joined St James’ as Associate Vicar and became its incumbent in 2017 upon his predecessor’s retirement. In 2023 he also became Area Dean for the Yeovil Deanery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“St James’ has been a great blessing to us as a family, and it’s so encouraging to be part of a church where people are finding faith in Jesus and growing in their faith.”<\/em>“<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pioneer Associate Vicar  – Reverend Sarah Sanderson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarah and her family moved to Yeovil recently and we welcomed her as our new Pioneer Associate Vicar on 17th September 2024. Sarah will be focusing on the new addition to our parish at Lufton\/Agusta Park and working closely with the three churches in our benefice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Curate – Rev John Hanson <\/strong><\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

John was ordained as deacon recently at Wells Cathedral and is now part of St James’ clergy team.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Parish Administrator – Joanna Newton<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joanna has worked in our Parish Office since 2013 and also works as administrator for Christian theatre company Oddments and helps with St Peter’s Community Centre accounts. She has two teenage children who have attended St James’ since they were born. Her husband and son can be found looking after the tech and livestream on a Sunday morning , while her daughter sings with the music group and is a volunteer young leader helping with youth work at St Peter’s, our sister church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Youth Worker – Ruth Glendinning<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruth leads our Sunday night youth group ‘Lift’, other youth groups based at our sister church St Peter’s and in Agusta Park, and Christian Unions in our two local secondary schools.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Children and Families Worker – Laura Broome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laura leads our children’s work at St James’ and St Peter’s including Sunday morning Junior Church, Messy Church, Lego Church and toddler groups and working with local primary schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/em>“Since moving to the area, St James’ has been a friendly and supportive church. My children enjoy the different groups,  there is something for all ages and everyone is welcome.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Readers (Licensed Lay Ministers)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Readers are lay ministers whose ministry is threefold as teachers of the faith, leaders in church and society and enablers of mission. They are given a licence by the Bishop to lead services, preach and attend to pastoral and missional work arising from these ministries. Trained as lay theologians, they help all people think and talk about God and God’s relationship to the world. Reader Ministry provides a bridge between the clergy and the laity; the church and the community.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chris Harris – Reader<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as leading services as a licensed reader, Chris can often be found looking after the AV and streaming and looking after the church building (fabric). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The church community has been at the centre of my life for many years, and has always supported and encouraged me in my journey of faith.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Christine Davies – Reader<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I joined St James as a licensed reader In October 18. Everyone here are friendly and lively who support each other. There is worship every week to suit everyone’s tastes of all ages and you are made to feel welcomed.”<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Churchwardens<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Churchwardens are the senior lay representatives of the parish. The role of the
churchwarden is extremely varied but generally involves management, maintenance and
mission in accordance with the Churchwardens Measure 2001 and the Canons of the
Church of England. They are the foremost in representing the laity and in co-operating with the incumbent, and they have a duty to maintain order and decency in the church and churchyard, particularly during the times of divine service. In co- operation with the incumbent, churchwardens are generally responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the parish.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Melodie Andrews<\/strong> – Churchwarden<\/strong> and Lay Pastoral Assistant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mel became churchwarden at our AGM in April 2022. She, Ivor and Ian assist the clergy in the day-to-day running of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“St James’ is a Christian Family who seek to love Jesus and care for each other . Always looking upwards to  heaven and outwards to  the world to do God\u2019s work.<\/em>“<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ivor Jones -Churchwarden & Church Room Bookings Coordinator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivor became churchwarden in 2024 and continues to also manage bookings for all the groups using our Church Room.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Our LWAs play a crucial life at St James’ leading our services.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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 Graham Hardacre – <\/strong>Lay Worship Assistant & Verger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graham continues to bless us with his work as verger at baptisms, weddings and funerals, leading services on a Sunday and running the monthly coffee morning amongst other things. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Maureen Harris – Lay Worship Assistant <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maureen leads services on a Sunday, organises our church fairs and fundraisers and, along with her husband Chris, is involved in many aspects of the running of the church.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Felstead – Lay Worship Assistant and Prayer Coordinator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark also leads services and works with others in the church to help and encourage our prayer ministry. He also helps to coordinate the Virtual Prayer Room which connects us with friends in other churches in Yeovil and the wider area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing a member of the St James\u2019 church family for many years has meant being part of a warmly welcoming and caring Christian community. I see how God has blessed us in so many ways and continues to help us grow together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Reverend Sandra Pickard – Lay Worship Assistant <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandra is a retired United Reformed Church Minister who blessed us by joining our team of LWAs. She also heads up our new Oasis Bereavement Support Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lay Pastoral Assistants (LPAs) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LPAs are trained and authorised to engage in pastoral ministry on behalf of the local church, working as part of a team of clergy and laity. They may work with children and young people, the sick, the recently bereaved and the elderly and housebound. They may take communion to those unable to come to church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Linda Mason – Lay Pastoral & Lay Worship Assistant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linda is involved in our ministry in care homes, including home communion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sandie Porter – Lay Pastoral Assistant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandie is another of our LPAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Safeguarding Officer – Jackie Perryman<\/strong>        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackie works hard to ensure both churches in the parish are keeping everyone safe.   She and her husband Graham worship at our sister church St Peter’s. Graham is a retired vicar and is seen often at St James’ blessing us with his fantastic piano and organ playing as well as taking services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Graham and I retired to Yeovil in 2019 and I joined the online congregation of St James during the first COVID lockdown. It is such a blessing being able to continue to take part from home every Sunday thanks to the tech team.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Safeguarding Liaison – Liz Wilson-Chalon   <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liz helps with Jackie’s important safeguarding work and the link between the two churches for all safeguarding matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Treasurer – Lynne Biles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together with Frances, our Parish Treasurer, Lynne works hard to keep our finances in order!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tower Captain – Lawrence Bignell<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawrence heads up the team of ringers who bless St James’ with their skill on a Sunday morning, as well as for weddings and other special occasions. They ensure the church clock is wound and in working order and keep the flag flying and keep the well-loved tradition of the church bells going. Lawrence also leads up the project to restore the bells.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vicar  – Reverend David Keen David joined St James’ as Associate Vicar and became its incumbent in 2017 upon his predecessor’s retirement. In 2023 he also became Area Dean for the Yeovil Deanery. “St James’ has been a great blessing to us as a family, and it’s so encouraging to be part of a church […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3486","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3486"}],"version-history":[{"count":65,"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5600,"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3486\/revisions\/5600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.stjamesyeovil.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}