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Rev Clare Dean
Revd Clare Dean

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
Fiona Hedges

Licensed Lay Minister

01747 838 942
[email protected]

Jeremy
Mr Jeremy Stanford

Safeguarding Officer

07766 071538
[email protected]

Sue
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