DAN BISHOP grew up in Cheshire in a Christian family. At the age of 18, he went to the University of Chester to train as a youth worker, where he met his wife, Anna. They got married in 2016. After university, he served as a lay chaplain in two schools: St. Michael’s High School in Chorley, in the Diocese of Blackburn, and Bishop Ramsey School, in the Diocese of London. It was while serving in London that Dan began the discernment process for ordination and started training at Ridley Hall in 2020. Dan has a passion for food, music, and board games.

Dan continues to serve his title with the Revd Rich Atkinson and the Revd Canon Peter Huxtable in the Benefice of Aspley and the Benefice of Basford St Leodegarius & St Aidan

JO HARLEY was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire and emigrated to South Africa with her parents and younger brother, Lee, when she was 4. The family settled in a town called Witbank, close to Johannesburg. Jo loved growing up in South Africa surrounded by family and friends. She chose a career in computers and enjoyed travelling around the country building banking systems. Jo met and married Colin in 1992 and they have three children. In 1998 the family left South Africa and settled in Nottingham. Jo and Colin have eight grandchildren with the five oldest living in Sweden and Plymouth. The three youngest, Azariah, Aianna and Vinnie, live locally and Colin and Jo love spending lots of time with them. Jo was licensed as a reader in 2010. In 2022 she studied on the Caleb Stream at St Mellitus College, East Midlands. Jo continues to serve her title with the Revd Rich Atkinson and the Revd Lydia Corbett in the Benefice of Aspley and Benefice of Basford St. Leodegarius & St. Aidan

EDITH IHEAMA was born and raised in Onitsha, Anambra State in Nigeria. She was baptised in and attended a Roman Catholic church until she became a born-again Christian and joined a Pentecostal church at university.  She graduated as a medical doctor from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus. She worked as a junior doctor before moving to the United Kingdom for postgraduate studies, achieving a master’s in public health at University of Wolverhampton. Edith worked for the Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust as a Public Health Practitioner. She moved to Nottingham in 2016 with her three daughters where she set up a Community Interest Company providing wellbeing support and services to marginalised, deprived and vulnerable individuals, especially refugees, asylum seekers and migrant communities. In 2018, Edith was encouraged to attend a vocations exploration evening, following which she attended the RealLIFE discipleship course. It was while training for Licensed Lay Ministry that Edith started to discern a call to ordained ministry. She trained at St. Mellitus College, East Midlands. Edith enjoys walking in the countryside, travelling and good food. Starting Curacy in a new place with an empty nest was challenging at first but she now feels a deep sense of belonging in a loving church family and community in Worksop. Edith has experienced real joy partaking in the discernment of and participating in, where God is at work in their Benefice and community.  Edith continues to serve her title post with the Revd Dave Gough in the Benefice of St Anne in Worksop

AMY JONES lives in the city with her husband Adam and five children, Reuben, Mabel, Agnes, Eli and Vera. They have been in Nottingham for 7 years, moving from London to be a part of Trinity Church Nottingham.  Amy very much enjoyed being Executive Assistant to Bishop Paul in Southwell, before discerning a call to Ministry. Amy became a Christian as a teenager at a friend’s house before school, establishing hospitality as a key part of her faith.  Amy and Adam long to live a life of wholehearted hospitality, with food, welcome and adoption being a big part of their life in the city. Together they co-own Punch Coffee, a small coffee shop on the Mansfield Road which has been a wonderful place to see people served good coffee, tasty food and the welcome of God.  When she is not in the city, Amy loves to walk her Labrador, River, in Sherwood Pines with a huge flask of hot coffee.  

Amy continues to serve her title with the Revd Jonny Hughes and the Revd Dr Mark Wreford at Trinity Church Nottingham (A Bishop’s Mission Order) and in the Benefice of Nottingham St Andrew. 

JOHN LEES-ROBINSON grew up in Teesside and aged 13 received a call to serve God wholeheartedly. After briefly living in Oxford during his gap year, John came to Nottingham in 2011 to train as a nurse. At university John met Jo and they married in 2015; they now have two boys, Joshua, and Levi. Whilst John was working as a nurse, Jo was ordained and, shortly after the birth of Joshua, John felt called to ordination as well. John has trained at St Mellitus, East Midlands where he has been on placement at Trinity Church Nottingham. John is particularly passionate about prayer and has a deep desire to see people encounter God, become whole and be released into God’s purpose for their lives. In his spare time John loves running, gardening and reading. In his first year of curacy John, with Jo, has planted a new worshipping community into St Saviour’s, Nottingham. John will continue to serve his title post with the Revd Jonny Hughes in the Benefice of Nottingham St Saviour

LIZ MACK was born and bred in Nottingham. Liz had been part of a family coffee and food business for most of her life before beginning training at St Mellitus College, having studied a BTEC HND in Business and Finance at Loughborough many moons ago! She has been recently enjoying a quieter household with her twin girls now at university, and has discovered a love of open water swimming, along with being out in nature as much as possible. Liz came to faith at 40 through an Alpha Course, and still loves to share faith around the table with friends, good food, and wine. She is passionate about welcoming people into the church, often through hospitality, and discipling them into deeper relationships with Jesus, with a heart for reaching out into the community and making God possible to those of no faith. Liz is serving her title post with the Revd Becky Hancock in the Benefice of Bawtry with Austerfield, Mission, Everton & Mattersey. 

DANNY MARSHALL was born in Nottinghamshire but has lived and worked between Lancaster and Milton Keynes. He is married to Bec who is a Special Educational Needs teacher, and their daughter, Evelyn Grace, was born last August. Danny studied Theology at the University of Chester and St John’s College, Nottingham as well as teacher training at the University of Derby.  After a few years as a youth and schools’ worker, Danny spent ten years working in the apprenticeship and prison education sector.  He loves outdoor cooking and would describe himself as an average runner. Danny has felt a calling towards ordained ministry from an early age and after a few years of wrestling and discerning this call with others, he started training at St Mellitus College, East Midlands and was on placement at his sending church, St Jude’s, Mapperley.  During his curacy, Danny has enjoyed immersing himself in the breadth the church offers in worship and the many opportunities to grow disciples and identify the gifts in those whom he serves. Danny continues to serve his title with the Revd Chris Lion in the Benefice of Newark on Trent, St Mary Magdalene with St Leonard. 

EDEN PARRIS was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Sydney, Australia. In Australia, he trained in law and worked in disability rights advocacy. He is married to Bethany, and they have two daughters, Oriana and Serena. Before ordination training, Eden was worship director at St Paul’s Crofton in Kent. For many years Eden and Beth sought to live out their faith through sharing their home, and as foster parents. Eden has a strong interest in how the Kingdom of God is communicated in church, and recently completed his MPhil on that subject.  He also likes songwriting and walking with his family and their two Labradors. Eden is excited about continuing to be involved in what God is already doing in revitalising the church in Mansfield. Eden continues to serve his title with the Revd Chris Lee in the Benefice of Mansfield St John with St Mary, and the Benefice of Mansfield St Augustine and Pleasley Hill St Barnabas. 

LAUREN SIMPSON grew up in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, and she moved to Nottingham to study Product Design and Manufacture at university. She grew up in a Christian family and after a ‘prodigal’ first year at university she came back to faith in a taxi after a night out with friends. After Lauren graduated, she launched a fashion brand, worked as a barista, and served as a Community and Youth Intern at Bestwood Park Church. From there she had a role with Transforming Notts Together helping local churches to develop social action in their communities. Lauren is passionate about people of all backgrounds encountering the loving power of God in both the extraordinary and the mundane. Lauren loves hot chocolate, deep conversations and eating good food with good friends. Lauren continues to serve her title with the Revd Dr Jonathan Mole in the Benefice of Lady Bay with Holme Pierrepont and Adbolton. 

NIGEL STONES was born and grew up in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He qualified as an Electrical Engineer after serving an engineering apprenticeship in the open cast mining industry where he stayed for 10 years, before becoming Engineer for a chemical recycling centre near Sheffield. He then became a Safety and Environmental Manager working for many years with an electrical equipment manufacturer based in Worksop. After 43 years in full time employment, Nigel took early retirement to train for ordained ministry with St Mellitus College, East Midlands. Nigel is married to Lianne, and they have been blessed with two children and four grandchildren, who are much loved and currently enjoying their school years. As well as spending time with the family, Nigel also enjoys the outdoors and learning to play his drum kit. He has been a Licensed Reader since October 2013, ministering and worshiping at St Anne’s church in Worksop. Nigel continues to serve his title with the Revd Dave Gough in the Benefice of Worksop St Anne and the Benefice of Norton-Cuckney. 

DANIEL TSOI is of Chinese heritage and was born and raised in Hong Kong. He moved to England with his wife Tracey in 2004 to explore if God might be calling them to cross-cultural works. God has kept them in England and blessed them with a daughter, Abigail, born in Sheffield. The family moved to Nottingham in 2008. Daniel used to work for the NHS as a psychiatrist. To the surprise of many people, including himself, he sensed an unexpected but persistent call to ordained ministry through Holy Communion whilst on retreats in an Anglican monastery. Since then, his life has changed considerably. He became an Anglican and assisted the ministry among Iranians at St Stephen’s, Hyson Green. He also recovered from a health challenge and finally started his ordination training. Daniel trained for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham, and is finishing his doctorate research thesis about something close to his heart: Christians from a minority background and Holy Communion. He loves travelling and experiencing diverse cultures in the world God created. Besides Tracey and Abigail, Daniel also loves his cat, Sooty, and dog, Rocky. Daniel continues to serve his title post with the Revd Canon Steve Silvester in the Benefice of Nottingham St Nicholas. 

CHARLOTTE TURNER Charlotte was born and raised in Bushey, Hertfordshire and joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service on leaving school. It was during her service that she met and married her husband Martin, also an Aircraft Engineer.  They settled and raised their three children near Yeovilton in Somerset, during which time Charlotte worked within schools and church settings with children and young families.  A move north to Nottinghamshire in 2015 started an exploration of a new place to settle and as it turned out, a call to ordained ministry and she started training at St Hild College in 2018.  Charlotte loves to grow and care for all things; she has enjoyed being involved in a range of ministries in her diaconate year with people of all ages and stages of faith. She continues to find joy outdoors in the garden and loves to spend time with her growing number of grandchildren. Charlotte serves her title post with the Revd Hazel Robinson in the Benefice of Annesley with Newstead & Kirkby Woodhouse.

JACOB TYERS was born and raised in Nottingham. He was brought up in church, but Jesus became real to him and changed his life entirely when he was 15. As part of his salvation story, during a walk in the park with his parents, he began to feel that he was not being called to live a ‘normal’ life, but that God was calling him to Church ministry. In 2016, he moved to Bournemouth where he studied Theology and began to sense a call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. Jacob spent time at Trinity Church Nottingham, where he served the youth, before moving to St Wilfrid’s Church in Wilford. As part of Jacob’s curacy, he has planted a new worshipping community in a local primary school where he has seen children and families come to faith and be baptised. Jacob has also been serving as an Academy Chaplain at Notts County FC, bringing his love for football and Jesus together. Jacob married to Ellie and both love running along the river in Wilford, he is wannabe golfer, coffee enthusiast and enjoys trying his hand at anything DIY related. Jacob continues to serve his title post with the Revd George White in the Benefice of Wilford.

LAURA WARD was born and raised in Nottingham. She always had a faith although she did not attend church until her teens. In 1999 she moved to London to work as Cabin Crew for British Airways and at the same time met her husband, Paul, whom she married in 2005. Laura later studied Emergency Planning at university and qualified as Complementary Therapist. Laura worked as a manager for the British Red Cross Emergency Response Team. Laura has always been involved in volunteer youth and community ministry and, following maternity leave, she worked as a Youth Leader at St Leonard’s Church, Wollaton, which is where she began to feel called to ordained ministry. Laura then worked as a Health and Pastoral Care Manager before stepping out to establish the charity, Break the Chains. Laura is passionate about pastoral ministry, health, wellbeing, and hospitality. She and Paul live with their two sons, Jacob and Aidan and their Labrador Retriever, Elsa. In her spare time Laura enjoys walking, swimming, cycling, and spending time with friends and family. Laura will continue to serve her title post with the Revd Rich Atkinson and the Revd Emmie Walford in the Benefice of Aspley and the Benefice of Bilborough and Strelley.   

GRAHAM BAKER grew up in southeast London and was aware of wanting to follow Jesus from an early age. He spent time in academic research, with a DPhil in History, and then teaching before recognising a call to ministry within the church. This call initially took the form of serving at a Vineyard church plant in Manchester, and studying as an independent student at St Mellitus College, North West, before moving into the Church of England and training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol where he has been working on a PhD in theology. He is excited to be returning to Nottingham, where he and his wife Sarah first met; they are joined now by their one-year-old daughter Joanna, and an excitable cocker spaniel, Bertie. Graham is a keen park runner and is working hard on reducing his time. Graham will serve his title with the Revd Joanna Seabourne in the Benefice of West Bridgford.  

CARL BROOKS-PLUNKETT was born in North London and spent his childhood years there before moving to Buckinghamshire when he was 11. When he was 14, Carl heard the gospel and gave his life to Christ, thanks to a bold youth worker, and a rock-climbing wall. At 19, Carl trained as a Paediatric Nurse at the University of Plymouth. Whilst working in Paediatric Intensive Care, his love for sharing Jesus with young people led him away from the NHS and to a 2-year Ministry Trainee role in Cambridge. After this he served as a Youth and Families Minister for 4-years in Sheffield. During his time in Sheffield Carl began the discernment process for ordination and started training at Oak Hill in 2020. For Carl, sharing the gospel with others is the best job in the world. In 2021 Carl met Hannah at their church in London, and they married in November 2023. Carl loves to read and write fiction, host dinner parties, and bake showstoppers. He loves getting out for a run and enjoying time catching up with friends. Carl will serve his title with the Revd Canon Mark Tanner in the Benefice of Radcliffe-on-Trent and Shelford. 

LEE DUNLEAVY was born and raised in Yorkshire. He read music at the University of Oxford, and worked as a church musician in Cambridge, London, and at York Minster. He has spent much of the past twenty years in Northamptonshire, most recently working as a freelance conductor and composer. It was there that he met his wife Sally with whom he has a stepdaughter, Charlotte, and an aged but beloved cat, Des. He sensed a calling to ordained ministry on a school trip to Rievaulx Abbey, and after many years of discernment, he began training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. He is passionate about drawing people to Christ through the beauty and truths of word and sacrament, and through service and hospitality. Lee is very much looking forward to joining the Diocese and the whole family are excited about the move to Nottingham. Lee will serve his title with Fr Ian McCormack at Nottingham St George with St John the Baptist and the Benefice of Sneinton St Cyprian. Lee will be ordained by the Bishop of Beverley in St George’s Church in the Meadows. 

MARSHA FARMER was born and bred in Nottingham and raised by her grandparents. Her Granddad was Anglican, and her grandmother was Pentecostal. Marsha has always sensed a call to devote her life to God and during her late 20s had considered becoming a nun. However, God had a different plan. Marsha is passionate about joining in with Holy Spirit to see lives transformed by his power, Isaiah 61 being one of her favourite passages. She loves to dance, write and spend quality time with friends around the dinner table, particularly when her husband has done the cooking. Marsha is married to Peter, and they have three teenagers. Marsha will serve her title post with The Revd Steve Silvester in The Benefice of Sneinton St Christopher with St Philip and the Benefice of Nottingham St Nichola

JAMIE PRICE was born and raised in Nottingham, she lives at home with her teenage sons Sam, 15 (almost 16) and Jake, 17. Before discernment Jamie had worked in school as a mid-day supervisor and trained to Level 3 Qualified Teaching Assistant. Jamie was not bought up in the Christian faith but encountered God in church as an adult whilst attending church for wedding preparation. Jamie was baptised as an adult alongside her two children a few years later. This encounter with God began a journey of faith for Jamie, and she longs to see the lives of others be transformed by Christ through similar encounters. Jamie spends much of her free time with her children, family and friends, and in seeking adventure through travel, climbing, hiking and exploring the great outdoors. Jamie will serve her title with the Revd Rich Atkinson and the Revd Emmie Walford in the Benefice of Aspley and the Benefice of Cinderhill. 

EMMA ROLLS grew up in both the Midlands and North Yorkshire. Emma was brought up going to church, but she decided to commit to following Jesus when she was 16 years old and found great support through the local youth group. She moved to Nottingham in 2017 to study Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham where she was part of setting up the society Just Love Nottingham, a group for Christian students who are passionate about social justice. It was during this time of realising a passion for justice and through an internship year at a church that Emma began the discernment process for ordination. She began training at St Mellitus College, East Midlands in 2022 and has loved being on placement at St Stephen’s, Sneinton during this time. Her passion for pastoral care and community building is something she hopes will be part of her long-term ministry. Her favourite place to be is by the sea somewhere in Yorkshire and her friends and family are important to her. Emma will serve her title with the Revd Paul Savage in the Benefice of Stapleford

SAM WATKINS-SMITH grew up in Cheshire before moving to Nottingham in 2016 to study Civil Engineering. Sam met Millie in their first week of university and they married in 2019; they have recently celebrated the arrival of their beautiful boy, August James. Sam grew up going to church but has never quite been the same since giving his life to Jesus at age 16 after a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit at an MCYC Summer Camp. During his time at university, Sam stumbled across Trinity Church Nottingham in its early stages as a church plant and began to discern a call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. During his ordination training Sam has led the Student Ministry at Trinity; contending for a generation of students to encounter Jesus, be transformed by the power of his life and love and be inspired to play their part in the renewal of their university campuses. Sam is passionate about the renewal of the church, raising up a generation of revivalists, and all things Bible and theology. Sam loves reading, running, and even changing dirty nappies. Sam will serve his title with the Revd Jonny Hughes and The Revd Dr Mark Wreford at Trinity Church Nottingham (A Bishop’s Mission Order) and the Benefice of Nottingham St Andrew.