St Mary's Church, Dymock

Our Ministry Team serves the whole of the Benefice, which comprises 9 parishes with 9 churches (+1 'redundant'). It comprises the Priest-in-Charge, 4 Associate Priests, 2 Curates in training, 2 'Readers', 2 'Lay Pastors', and several members of the congregation authorised as 'Lay Worship Leaders' to lead non-Communion Services when a trained minister is not available.

For details of Dymock's officers, click here: Priests & Curates, Readers, Lay Pastors, Churchwardens, PCC Appointments

READERS
People trained in theology and ministry who are not ordained but remain part of the 'laity'

David Clowes has been married to Ruth for 41 years. They've lived in Dymock for 4 years, having previously lived in Surrey and the Coventry area. They've a son called Philip and two grandchildren, Polly and Thomas who live in Somerset. David retired to Dymock after a career as an engineer in Transport Control Systems. He was licensed as a Reader and served in the Coventry diocese in 1978 before moving to the Southwark diocese in 1983 and to Dymock in 2003. (Readers are admitted to a nation-wide ministry but are usually licensed to one area at a time). (Return to top)

Canon Roger Parker married Sandra in 1975, having met through a church amateur dramatics group. They lived in the London suburbs until they moved to Donnington next to Dymock in 1996. Roger is retired from a career in electronic design and project management. He led youth activities and adult enquirer's groups before he came to Dymock, so was delighted when, in 1997, he was invited to join the Dymock Local Ministry Team. In 2003 he began training as a 'Reader' and on completion of training in 2006 was licensed to the Benefice. He was appointed a Lay Canon of Gloucester Cathedral in 2012 for his services as a memberof the Deanery and Diocesan Synods and Canon Emiritus in 2015. (Return to top)

LAY PASTORS
People who are not ordained but who are trained to provide pastoral care

Ruth Blandford was married to Jeff for nearly 44 years until he died in 2002. She's lived in Leddington near Dymock since being married in 1958 and has 4 sons, Brian, Trevor, Neil and Simon and one grand-daughter, Ella. Ruth was one of the original 'Lay Pastors' formed in 1982 by the Rev'd Reg Legg (a previous vicar), which transferred to the diocesan Local Ministry Teams (LMT) when that was subsequently created. Ruth was also a churchwarden at Preston Church for 48 years before retiring from that post in 2024. (Return to top)

Ruth Clowes has been married to David for 41 years having previously lived in Surrey and the Coventry area. They've a son called Philip and two grandchildren, Polly and Thomas who live in Somerset. Ruth retired from a career as a Dietitian in 2002. Whilst living in Surrey, she trained and was licensed to the diocese of Southwark as a Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary (SPA). She was an honorary lay chaplain at Southwark cathedral and continued in that role at Gloucester cathedral where the team of lay chaplains offer pastoral care and prayer ministry to people who visit the cathedral. (Return to top)