Who’s Who at All Saints
Vicar John Kirkland
John was born in Leeds and went to University in Leicester where he came to a living faith in Jesus. After a year working in the Philippines, he trained for ordained ministry in Durham, where he met his wife Kate.
He served as a Curate in Knutsford and then became Minister at Holy Trinity, Spital on the Wirral and, when that became a separate parish, its first Vicar. He has been Vicar of All Saints since 1995.
As well as spending time with the family – John and Kate have four children - his hobbies include birdwatching, listening to music (it is an understatement to say that he is a fan of Bob Dylan!), following cricket, and reading.
Curate Ruth Ackroyd
Ruth was born in Bradford and grew up in Sheffield. She read Theology at Durham and became a secondary school RE and PE teacher before joining the University of Chester (formerly Chester College) as a lecturer and ultimately Head of Theology and Religious Studies at until she retired in 2009.
She joined the congregation of All Saints in 1983 and has always taken an active role in church life as a Pathfinder leader, Reader and latterly our Curate. Her greatest joys are God’s reality and seeing people come to faith, live by faith and experience God’s reality at any age and any stage.
Her keenest interest is mission - in its broadest sense - in Ethiopia and her other interests and joys include good friends, canal boating, sitting on the balcony and snorkelling in Mallorca, and most recently kayaking.
Preaching Team
Here at All Saints we have a number of preachers who help us to understand the Bible and experience its transforming power in our lives. We believe that Scripture is God’s word for today and that we grow in faith, hope and love as we hear and obey God through his unchanging word. As well as John and Ruth the following people make up the preaching team:
John Benson
Vicki Bulgin
Bill Holt
Jeff Turnbull
There are also a number of people who ensure that the wheels don't fall off (some paid positions and some voluntary):
Church Centre Manager
Christina Beveridge
Church Office Manager
Chantal Proctor
Church Wardens
Vicki Bulgin and John Chester
Children, young people and families
We have a number of people within the church with specific responsibility for some parts of our work with children and families (some paid positions and some voluntary).
Helen Ellis - Families Work Co-ordinator and
Regional Co-ordinator for Messy Church
Sam Durdant-Hollamby - Youth and Drama Worker
Andy Chrin - Children and Youth Worker
Stephen and Cathy Batchelor – Sunday Club Leaders