We are here to help people love and worship God. We aim to be, and encourage others to become, committed and active disciples of Jesus,
who love God and worship him, who know the power of the Holy Spirit and who show God’s love in every part of their lives.
The Ministry Team at St Mary's
Revd Tim Gill (Vicar)
Tim is married to Mandy and they have three children and two Labradors. He was born in North Yorkshire and became Christian when he was 17. Tim has been a vicar for 25 years and has worked in a variety of parishes.
He was a Curate in Hull and moved to York, Leeds and Liverpool. While working in Hull he also served as a prison chaplain, and while in Leeds he covered a chaplaincy vacancy in a local hospice. He came to Ecclesfield in 2016 and is enjoying getting to know the area and its people.
Tim believes that the Church is God's not ours, and that it is our calling to reach out to God's world with the love of Christ for all people. He prays for the Spirit of God to set the churches of this land on fire for Christ.
He is committed to the Church of England being a Parish Church, a Church that exists for every person in this land regardless of their faith (or lack of faith), and resists moves in the Church today to become a Church that cares for and serves only its members.
In addition to Parish ministry Tim has been involved in teaching theology both in university context and to those training for ministry.
He loves to be out walking with his family and dogs. Tim has a passion for rock music and loves to get out to live concerts whenever possible.
Rev'd Sam Ellmore (Curate)
Hi, I’m Sam. I am the new curate for Ecclesfield Church. I have met a few people already and have been made to feel very welcome. If we have not yet met (and even if we have) let me tell you a little about myself:
I love music, taking long walks, and reading a good book (is it just me, or do I sound a bit like a Blind Date contestant?). I am married to my brilliant wife, Maria; we have two beautiful daughters, Ramona (8) and Aela (5); and we also have a dog – a pughasa – called Sabre. I’m quite a quiet person, but I love to laugh – I enjoy exchanging stories, and am looking forward to hearing yours.
I was born and raised in North Wales. I am a cradle Anglican (born into a Christian family), but I didn’t realise my faith until I left home and attended university in Sheffield. I used to be a worship leader and am passionate about expressing worship through song – it can’t be long before you’ll catch me sneaking my guitar into church. When I first discerned a calling to the priesthood, I was leading worship and my church’s youth group, and I still love learning and teaching about life and faith in Jesus.
Alongside my years of discernment and study, I have been gifted(?) with different career experiences: these include retail service, call-centre work, and bus driving. If nothing else, these experiences have given me a particular desire to share the light of God in every part of our community (not just inside the walls of the church) – you may already have seen opportunities, and had ideas about how we might respond to this vision in Ecclesfield, and I’d love to hear them!
I’d appreciate prayers for myself and my family as we settle in to our new life with you all - and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better.
God bless you
Rev'd Sam Ellmore
Rev John Leach (Retired)
John grew up in Essex, at the end of the District Line, and after a failed attempt to study Chemistry at York University went on to train for ordination at King’s College London and St John’s Durham. After ordination he served curacies in North Norfolk and Sheffield before becoming vicar of a parish in Coventry. He then moved to Derby to oversee Anglican Renewal Ministries for five years, followed by a spell driving trucks for IKEA, and then a locum in two parishes in Jersey. He was then appointed Parish Development Adviser in the Diocese of Monmouth, South Wales.
More parish ministry followed, in Folkestone, before his final role as Discipleship Officer in the Diocese of Lincoln, and lecturer at the Lincoln School of Theology, a role which he has continued since his retirement in 2020. He is in the final stages of a PhD in the area of Anglican Liturgy, and he also teaches mission and Biblical Studies. He has written several books around the areas of worship and church renewal.
When not being theological, John enjoys going to the gym, working in his garden and garage, carpentry, and curries. He loves driving his orange car and is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He also loves music of most types, except Country and Western, and previously played bass in a Jazz trio, inexplicably called ‘Three Wise Men’. He is married to Chris, an ex-teacher who now works as a Care Support Worker in Rotherham. His daughter Tori gets married in June 2022, and he has a son, Paul, who is married and lives in the Netherlands, and another son, Steve, who lives in Bournemouth and gets married in 2023. Chris and John have one granddaughter, Alexia.
Readers and Pastoral Workers
Readers are lay people in the Church of England, from all walks of life, who are called by God, theologically trained and licensed by the Bishop of a diocese to preach, teach and lead worship in a pastoral context. Most are licensed to a parish but some are chaplains in prisons, hospitals, hospices or schools. Readers give their services to the church so do not receive payment. Readers are supported by a Warden of Readers and a Secretary in each diocese. On retirement Readers may become Reader Emeritus.
Pastoral Workers are lay people who are called by God, trained and licensed to work in pastoral ministry in a voluntary capacity. This means work in the fellowship of the church and in the church's many contacts with people at important parts of their lives. That usually means involvement in pastoral care and visiting, including contacts through baptism, weddings, bereavement and illness and in enabling others to work in these areas. It may also include taking Holy Communion to the sick or housebound.
Pat Clarke (Reader Emeritus)
Pat has worshipped at St Mary’s since 1986. It was the prayers and encouragement of friends and the challenge of a powerful sermon on obedience that made her realise that God was nudging her in the direction of Reader ministry. She began Reader Training in September 1991. Her husband Bryan died just as her 2nd year of training finished. The final year was a struggle but held by the prayers and support of many people, and God’s strength and enabling, she did get through that final year and was licensed in September 1994.
She retired from full time work having spent all of her working life in the legal profession as a Legal Executive. Not having children of their own Pat and Bryan felt truly blessed in their work with Pathfinder Youth Groups, and for Pat that blessing continues as she assists with Baptism preparation.
Stephanie Dale (Reader Emeritus)
Stephanie has worshipped at St. Mary’s for the last thirty years and was licensed as a Reader in September 2006. She has two grown-up children and two grandchildren. Stephanie has recently retired from full time work, having spent part of her working life teaching in secondary schools and in adult education, and more recently in running a small dressmaking and alterations business in Ecclesfield. She still uses her teacher training and craft skills, offering help and ideas for children’s activities at St. Mary’s and in local schools.
‘Reader training proved to be quite a challenge,’ Stephanie admits, ‘and something I had never really considered until I was encouraged to try it. I did find the course very interesting, and I do enjoy being a part of the team here at St. Mary’s but, of course, it is an on-going challenge and a continuous learning process. It is never too late to try something different, and I would encourage anyone to look beyond their comfort zone. You may surprise yourself!
St Mary's Church, Priory Road, Ecclesfield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S35 9XZ, United Kingdom
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