Revd Clare Dean
I grew up in rural Gloucestershire, near the Welsh border, between the Wye Valley and close to the Forest of Dean. My family were church going and I sang in the choir in two of the churches in the parish until I left home to go to university in London, where I obtained a degree in European Studies. My secular career focused on learning and development mostly in the NHS, but also in the facilities management, manufacturing, engineering, construction, utilities, distribution, not-for-profit and skills sector too.
I did not start exploring the Christian faith seriously until my early thirties when I moved to Kings Norton in Birmingham where I was encouraged by a friend to do the Alpha course.
My calling to ordained ministry began when about to be made redundant from a learning and development job I loved. I was praying about my life’s direction. I experienced a vision of myself as a priest celebrating the Eucharist. I told no-one at the time. To my surprise, my rector told me seemingly “out of the blue” that I should explore ordination confirming my vision. My discernment journey had its ups and downs, but I began training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon on a part-time basis in 2018 while still working in the NHS. I have served my curacy in the Diocese of Brimingham in the parishes of Hampton in Arden, with Barston and Bickenhill, three villages in the greenbelt between Birmingham and Coventry. I was ordained deacon in 2020 and priest in 2021.
I enjoy a range of worship styles from the very traditional BCP to more experimental ways of communicating the Gospel such as worship in the wild. I love the way that the Church of England is able to encompass all.
I am married to Mike, and we have two adult children, and in my spare time I enjoy walking, swimming, cooking, crochet and attempting to keep my rusty conversational French going.
Support Team

Fiona Hedges
Licensed Lay Minister
01747 838 942
[email protected]

Mr Jeremy Stanford
Safeguarding Officer
07766 071538
[email protected]

Mrs Sue Jones
Benefice Treasurer
01747 838 784
[email protected]
Clare and the Benefice are also supported by our Licenced Lay Worshipers (LWL) who, along with Fiona our LLM, ensure that each parish has a Lay Led service each month. We currently have five LWLs, Jenny Sledge (based in Buckhorn Weston), Richard Jones (based in East Stour), Dee Trevor, based in Fifehead Magdalen, Liz Newton (based in Stour Provost), Richard King and Libby Pooley (both based in Todber).
All Benefice Contacts
| Name | Role | Church | Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revd Clare Dean | Vicar | Benefice | 01747 838171 |
| Fiona Hedges | LLM | Benefice | 01747 838942 |
| Carol Hibbert | LLM (Pastoral) | Benefice | 01747 838272 |
| Sue Jones | Benefice Treasurer | Benefice | 01747 838784 |
| Jill Perry | Benefice Administrator | Benefice | 01747 838911 |
| Jeremy Stanford | Safeguarding Officer | Benefice | 07766 071538 |
| Jenny Sledge | Churchwarden and LWL | Buckhorn Weston | 01963 370709 |
| Richard Jones | Churchwarden and LWL | East Stour | 01747 838784 |
| Dee Trevor | Churchwarden and LWL | Fifehead Magdalen | 01258 820220 |
| vacant | Churchwarden | Fifehead Magdalen | |
| Alma Floyd | Churchwarden | Kington Magna and Nyland | 01747 838669 |
| Roger Robotham | Churchwarden | Stour Provost (& Stour Row) | 07836 344736 |
| Jeremy Stanford | Churchwarden | Stour Provost (& Stour Row) | 07766 071538 |
| Stephanie Webb | Churchwarden | Todber | 01258 820547 |
| Libby Pooley | Churchwarden and LWL | Todber | 01258 820024 |
| Peter Goodman | Churchwarden | West Stour | 07967 054920 |
