St Mary’s Ministry Team

Revd Dr Elizabeth Lowson

Rector
020 8505 3000
Elizabeth arrived at St Mary’s as Rector in February 2021.  Her previous ministry was in Great Missenden in the Chilterns. She is passionate about discovering God’s love within communities and has volunteered in many team and leadership roles, including several years both working and volunteering with Samaritans.    Before ordination, Elizabeth was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, conducting research to improve end of life care and cancer survivorship.

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Revd Gill Hopkins

Clergy
020 8505 3000

My background is in teaching and training, I taught geography in North Yorkshire the ran the Teachers’ Centre in Chelmsford before becoming head of a primary school in north Essex. I left in 2007 to be ordained. My previous ministry was in Wickford and then the Waltham Holy Cross Team where I was responsible for the Church of the Holy Innocents at High Beach.I also served as Chaplain for Epping Forest and the Lee Valley. I have ‘Permission to Officiate’ following my retirement from full-time ministry in 2016. I continue to be passionate about education, the great outdoors and spiritual well-being. I serve on the Diocese Spiritual Direction Team. I also work as a volunteer for the Epping Forest Heritage Trust at High Beach Visitor Centre. Since 2016 I’ve been involved with a group welcoming Syrian refugees in West Essex.

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Revd Rachel Summers

Pioneer Curate
020 8505 3000

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Fiona Macauley

Ordinand
020 8505 3000
Fiona is preparing for ordained ministry and training at St Mellitus College, Chelmsford. She has spent recent years discerning her path through prayer, reflection, and community service. Fiona is dedicated to deepening her understanding of theology and ministry to serve her future congregation effectively. Prior to joining St Mary’s to begin her training, Fiona has been involved in lay leadership of the life of the church. Her journey has been marked by a commitment to compassionate outreach and a desire to bring the love of Christ to all people.
She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester and is a Professional member of the Chartered institute of IT. Her professional career spans both central and local government and more recently with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Fiona welcomes conversations with both current church members and those exploring their faith.

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I am a designer/craftsman in precious metals by training and have spent over 25 years in full-time education. I was until recently a university lecturer in an art and design department and have now returned once again to the freelance life. My Christian journey began with a love of religious art in my college days and art as a vehicle of spiritual understanding still remains important to my ministry.

The rest as they say, is history…..

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Mark Lewis

Reader
020 3505 3000

Rowena attended Woodford County High School and read History at Southampton University. She worked for Selfridges for six years before embarking on her P.G.C.E. She lived for two years in South Africa. Since returning to England most of her teaching has been in the London Borough of Hillingdon. She was licensed as a Reader in the Diocese of London in 1983. She returned to Woodford in 2003 and was licensed in Chelmsford Diocese in 2004.

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Rowena Rudkin

Reader
020 8505 3000

Mark Spencer Ellis

Authorised local preacher
020 8505 3000

After studying English at University, Mark taught for over 40 years in Secondary Schools, with a particular focus on Sixth Form students. He was Vice-Chair of Redbridge Night Shelter when it was at St Mary’s and when it moved to permanent premises in Ilford, Chair of the Board of Management at the Renewal Programme in Newham, and Chair of Chelmsford Diocese Educational Trust. He is currently Co-ordinator of the Chaplaincy at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
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