Clergy & staff

Our team of clergy and staff are always pleased to hear from you with any queries, ideas or needs you may have. Please contact them.

Revd Dr Jonathan Rowe, Rector

Jonathan was inducted as Rector of St Matthew with St Paul in June 2022. Prior to coming to Winchester he worked in Truro as Director of Ministry for the diocese and Joint-Principal of the South West Ministry Training Course; he also served a curacy in churches just outside Truro. Before living in Cornwall, he worked for 12 years in Spain training church leaders. He is married to Hilary and they have two adult children.

Revd Mary Copping, Assistant Priest

Mary began her working life as a teacher. She then travelled with her husband, who was in the army, living in Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Germany and various places in England. She worked in social services for several years as a day-care officer for under-fives, and later as an administrator in a local architect’s practice. She served as chaplain on two Mother’s Union holidays and was the children’s & youth work co-ordinator at St Paul’s from 2005 to autumn 2022. For many years Mary was a licensed Reader (a qualification now renamed licensed lay minister) before being ordained as a priest in 2013. Her interests include swimming, badminton, Sudoku, cryptic crosswords, playing the guitar and going to the gym. She has two adult children and six grandchildren.

Revd Canon Prof. Liz Stuart, Associate Priest

Liz studied theology at Jesus College, Oxford, before going on to do a doctorate at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, on Roman Catholic reactions to the Oxford Movement and Anglican schemes for reunion. She taught theology in Plymouth and Wales before moving to Winchester in 1998 to become Professor of Christian Theology at King Alfred’s College (now the University of Winchester). Ten years later she entered senior management and is now Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the university.

Liz was one of the first people to study for ordination through the Winchester Pathway, was a curate in this parish from 2019 and in January 2022 was licensed as our Associate Priest. She is also an Honorary Canon at Winchester Cathedral, Assistant Area Dean and a bank chaplain for Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust. Liz is professed in the Single Consecrated Life, a way of life recognised and authorised by the Church of England in which a person lives according to a rule approved by the bishop and takes a vow of celibacy. She enjoys walking and gardening.

Revd Rhiannon Wilmott, Curate

Rhiannon is originally from Southampton and studied Social Policy at Royal Holloway, University of London. She spent several years as an at-home mother before volunteering to lead Sunday school at St Denys’ Church in Southampton, where she became Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator and Messy Church lead. She began the role of Children and Families Worker at Romsey Abbey in 2017 and in 2018 began exploring a call to ordained ministry. After training through Winchester School of Mission she is looking forward to sharing the next stage of her journey as part of St Matthew with St Paul. She is married to Stefan and has three children, two of whom live at home, and a small dog.

Administration

Childrens & youth work

Pastoral care