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Our Diocesan Staff

The legal entity that performs most of the work of the Diocese and employs its staff is the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance. It undertakes many functions on behalf of the Bishop of Lichfield and his team and also for many parishes. 

But each parish is a separate legal entity, a charity under civil law, that is managed by its legal trustees who are the elected members of its PCC (Parochial Church Council).

Below are the contact details for diocesan staff - click on the + on the right of each row to see that team.

Many of our diocesan staff gathered outside our main office, St Mary's house in Lichfield

Church Buildings and DAC

DAC Officers (permissions/casework enquiries)

Giles Standing

DAC Secretary

Giles is a statutory officer of the Lichfield Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC), appointed by the Diocesan Bishop, and leads the church buildings team. He can advise parishes on how to obtain the necessary permissions for works to their churches and churchyards, and online applications via the Online Faculty System (OFS).

Giles is the first point of contact and case officer for:

Contact should be made with Giles direct on these matters.

Email: giles.standing@lichfield.anglican.org
Phone: 01543 221152

Please note: There is a separate contact procedure for emergency works to church buildings and churchyards

 

Communications

Arun Kataria

Mobile: 07930 826182
Email: arun.kataria@lichfield.anglican.org

Director of Communications

Arun joined the diocese in 2024 after in a career spanning nearly three decades in Church of England roles, including the Church Commissioners, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishops Council and as Director of Communications for St Albans Diocese.

Simon Jones

Office: 01543 306097
Mobile: 07973 625665
Email: simon.jones@lichfield.anglican.org

Creative Media Producer

Simon joined the diocese in 2012 after career as a sound recordist in broadcasting and corporate video production.

He takes particular responsibility for video and audio production, most in-house graphic design, this website and the Chad Blog.
Diocesan Secretariat

Sam Rushton

Chief Executive Officer and Diocesan Secretary

Email:  sam.rushton@lichfield.anglican.org

Revd Canon Nick Smeeton

Strategy Programme Director

Nick is charged with enabling the formulation and implement of diocesan strategy with a key role in leading the Mission, Vocations & Training and Education teams. 

Email: nick.smeeton@lichfield.anglican.org

Jo Durber

Governance Officer/ Personal Assistant to the Diocesan Secretary;

Phone: 01543 306067
Email: jo.durber@lichfield.anglican.org

Jo has the joy of administering many of the papers and agendas that our various synods and committees depend on, and is a key part of the team that looks after staff appointments.  She is also one of the office's Mental Health First Aiders.

Clare Beavon

Diocesan Pastoral Officer

Clare supports the DMPC and AMPCs (Diocesan/Area Mission & Pastoral Committees) with technical and statutory processes.

Office: 01543 306094
Mobile: 07896 898179
Email: clare.beavon@lichfield.anglican.org

Jan Firth

Diocesan Environmental Officer

Jan's role is to support and encourage parishes and the diocese in reaching our strategic goals (goal 10 specifically) around the environment and the Church of England's net-zero carbon target for 2030.

Email:  jan.firth@lichfield.anglican.org

 
Education

The Education team has a significant role supporting Church of England schools and academy trusts - meet the team on the board's own website

Environment

Jan Firth

Diocesan Environmental Officer

Jan's role is to support and encourage parishes and the diocese in reaching our strategic goals (goal 10 specifically) around the environment and the Church of England's net-zero carbon target for 2030.

Email:  jan.firth@lichfield.anglican.org

 
Finance

If you're not sure who to contact in the Finance team, use the general finance enquires email.

 

Jonathan Hill

Director of Finance

Email: Jonathan Hill
Phone: 01543 306056 / 07875414788
 

Jess Dace

Deputy to the Director of Finance

Email: Jess Dace
Phone: 01543 306052 / 07792016761
 

Yvonne Leonard

Executive Assistant to the Director and Deputy Director of Finance

Email: Yvonne Leonard
Phone: 01543 306054 / 07807330761

Jean Overton

Parish Support Team Officer

Email: Jean Overton
Phone: 01543306059

Julie Lunn

Parish Support Team Officer including Gift Aid

Email: Julie Lunn
Phone: 01543306096
 

Nici Danaher

Finance Officer including Direct Debits

Email: Nici Danaher
Phone: 01543306053

Karen Brooke

Senior Support Officer

Email: Karen Brooke
 

Gill Woodward

Finance Administration Officer

Email: Gill Woodward

Chloe Smith

Finance Administration Officer

Email: Chloe Smith

Rachael Wheeler

Finance Development Worker

Email: Rachael Wheeler

 

Mission

The Revd Simon Foster

Mobile: 07496 638805
Email

Team Leader

Key Contact for:

  • Parish support and Mission
  • Chaplaincy Development and the Community of Chaplains
  • Pioneering and Fresh Expressions
  • Creation Care and Mission
  • New Housing

The Venerable Dr Susan Weller, Archdeacon of Lichfield

Office: 01543 306145
Mobile: 07583 119740
Email

Archdeacon Missioner

Working alongside:

  • Lichfield Cathedral
  • Diocesan Prayer Diary
  • Healing
  • Renewal
  • Spirituality
  • World Mission

Helen Emery

Phone: 07498 192669
Email

Whole Life Discipleship Officer

Key contact for:

  • Christian Growth
  • Discipleship
  • Small Group Provision

Richard Barrett

Office: 01543 622592
Email

Executive Assistant to the Mission Team

Key contact for:

  • Stats for Mission
  • Prayer Diary and Diocesan Days of Prayer
  • Small Grants through TPLG
Property

Simon Ray

Maintenance Surveyor & Head of Property Services 

Bsc (hons) MSc MCIOB AssocRICS

Responsive maintenance of housing stock, liaison with clergy and contractors including quality checks and property letting management.

Office: 01543 306071
Email: Simon Ray 

Charlie Glenn

Diocesan Surveyor

BA Hons MRICS

Planned maintenance of housing stock including Quinquennials, Ingoing works and programme of improvements via surveys, reports and specifications. 

Office: 01543 306222
Email: Charles Glenn

Mandy Hulse

Secretary to Director of Property and Responsive Maintenance Co-ordinator

Secretarial duties and administrative support including dealing with repair requests, building insurance claims, invoice processing etc

Office: 01543 306051
Email: Mandy Hulse

Emma Dyke

Planned Maintenance Co-ordinator

General departmental administrative support in particular for Diocesan Surveyor

Office: 01543 306093
Email: Emma Dyke
Registry and Consistory Court
Anderew Wynne

Mr Andrew Wynne

Diocesan Registrar 

Contact days: Monday - Friday 

Andrew joined the Registry team in 2012 as Deputy Registrar becoming Joint Registrar in 2018 and Registrar in October 2020.
He also has over 20 years' experience in commercial property law.

Telephone: 01902 578066
Email: andrew.wynne@fbcmb.co.uk

Pauline Hollington   

Mrs Pauline Hollington

Diocesan Registry Clerk

Contact days: Monday - Wednesday

Pauline joined the Registry in 2020. She has a background in Human Resources and the charity sector.

Pauline and Rosie are the central points of contact for the Registry's work with others in the diocese and work closely with the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

Telephone: 01902 578005
Email: pauline.hollington@fbcmb.co.uk
Rosie Nightingale

Rosie Nightingale

Diocesan Registry Clerk

Contact days: Monday to Friday 

Rosie graduated In 2022 from the University of Liverpool having successfully obtained her BA (Honours) History degree. She joined FBC Manby Bowdler in 2023 as a New Enquiry Handler and joined the Registry in September 2023.

Rosie and Pauline are the central points of contact for the Registry's work with others in the diocese and work closely with the Diocesan Advisory Committee. 

Telephone: 01902 393487
Email: rosie.nightingale@fbcmb.co.uk

The Registry is based at

FBC Manby Bowdler (Midlands) Limited
6-10 George Street
Snow Hill
Wolverhampton WV2 4DN

to which any correspondence should be sent.

Safeguarding
 

eil Spiring - Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

Office: 01543 306147
Email: 

Neil Spiring is the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer and Team Leader working on Diocesan Safeguarding Policy Development, casework, issues regarding Adults at Risk and Children as well as being available to parishes, both clergy and Parish Safeguarding Coordinators to give advice on day to day issues of concern along with Peter Hurd (ADSA) and Kim Hodgkins.

 

 

 

Peter Hurd - Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer 

Office: 01543 221105

Email: 

Peter Hurd is the Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer and an experienced, qualified Social Worker. Peter is deputy for Neil Spiring, when he is not available, as well as working on casework, safeguaring issues involving Children and Adults at Risk and supporting parishes with safeguarding advice. Peter is working alongside Kim Hodgkins and Julia Dixon as part of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. 

 
 

Kim Hodgkins - Assistant Safeguarding Officer

Office: 01543 306099
Mobile: 07944 910934
Email:

Working Days: Monday - Thursday

Kim Hodgkins works alongside the DSAs with casework and to support Clergy, Parish Safeguarding Coordinators and parishes in Safeguarding matters relating to children.
 

Sarah Fullard - Safeguarding Training Adviser

Email: 
Mobile: 0789 6448248

Usual Working Days : Monday - Wednesday 

Sarah leads our in-person and online safeguarding training.
 

Sue Lord - DBS Administrator

Email:
Office: 01543 221506

Working days: Monday pm, Tuesday,  Wed pm

Sue is the first point of contact for queries (that are not covered in the DBS - key resources page) about DBS applications submitted through the diocese.
 

Emma Allen - Safeguarding Practitioner

 

Usual Working Days:  Mon, Tues pm, Wed, 

Telephone: 01543 756288
 

Laura Curry - Safeguarding Practitioner

 

Usual Working Days : Mon-Thurs

Telephone: 01543 756287

 
 

Maria Farrington - Safeguarding Practitioner

 

Usual Working Days : Weds am, Thursday, Friday 

Telephone: 01543 756286

The team are based at the diocesan offices in Lichfield, though all spend a greater or lesser proportion of their time out and about, meeting clergy and parish safeguarding advisers, delivering training locally and working with other professionals on casework.

Strengthening Communities

Carrie Blount

Strengthening Communities Enabler

As well as overseeing the team, Carrie’s role is to support individuals, community groups and churches with their community outreach, including supporting the opening and development of Places of Welcome and other community responses. She provides advice and guidance, working with statutory organisations and the wider voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to increase engagement and partnership working.

Email: Carrie Blount
Mobile: 07377 918 101

Sarah Thorpe

Dementia-Friendly Churches Enabler

Sarah is glad to work with any churches that want to join our Diocese-wide network, taking next steps to become more dementia-friendly churches at the heart of dementia-friendly communities. Sarah’s dad had dementia in the last years of his life – and this prompted her to start a dementia group in her home church.

Email: Sarah Thorpe
Mobile: 07982 248949

Lesley Bovington

Places of Welcome Facilitator

(Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent)

Like Carrie, Lesley supports our local Places of Welcome, encouraging existing community groups to join the network and working with others to start theirs from scratch.  She provides day to day support, online promotion, funding information, and local training and networking opportunities. Lesley loves to visit the Places of Welcome, to thank the wonderful volunteers - and to share in the tea, cake and chat, of course!

Email: lesley.bovington@tctogether.org.uk
Mobile: 07704 485 332

Su Parker

Enabling All Co-ordinator

Su has personal insight of disability, has been a carer and is also neurodivergent. 

Su learnt about the importance of welcome whilst living in communities as part of both  Scargill and Lee Abbey Movements, adding more knowledge of the theology of mission and ministry whilst studying a diploma at Cliff College.

Su also makes theatre, and has written and performed 'The Disappearance of Eliza Grey' exploring ways of how to stop people becoming invisible in our church communities.

Email: enabling.all@lichfield.anglican.org

 

Emma Smith

Engagement and Comms Co-ordinator 

Emma heads up the daily social media posts and is responsible for the Newsletters and general upkeep of Strengthening Communities part of this website! Emma manages both internal and external comms; collecting stories from a variety of community and church groups from around the diocese to help everyone's voice to be heard and stories celebrated.

Email: emma.smith@lichfield.anglican.org
Mobile: 07745 244 285
Page last updated: Tuesday 26th August 2025 9:14 AM
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