The people of St Mary's
The church provides a place of prayer and worship. We offer encouragement, hospitality, companionship, refreshment, nourishment and support for mind, body, and soul.
St Mary’s is home to a wide range of activities and groups. We welcome everyone who would like to find out more or become involved in any of our activities.
We aim to keep the church open regularly and as much as possible throughout the year.
The ministers and clergy are happy to receive enquiries about any aspect of the worship, work and outreach of St Mary’s.
The Ministry Team
Revd Dr Louise Adey Huish (PtO) has a long-standing association with St Mary's. A linguist by training, Louise’s first career was in university teaching. She was ordained in 2004, and served her curacy at St Mary’s; she then became a chaplain with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust 2007-12, and with the Myton Hospices in Warwickshire 2013-19. Louise has now retired from paid employment and is focussing on a ministry in Spiritual Accompaniment, having completed her training in Coventry Diocese 2021-22. She is particularly interested in the relationship between body, mind and spirit; and in working with people who feel they are on the fringes of organized religion. She has a keen interest in walking and pilgrimage!
If you would like to find out more about Spiritual Accompaniment (which some may know as Spiritual Direction), do get in touch.
The Revd Sarah Cotterill was ordained Deacon on 1 July, 2023, and is continuing her ministerial training here at St Mary’s as Assistant Curate. Before ordination, Sarah worked as a university teacher, library assistant, security guard and farmhand. She spent some time as a residential volunteer at Hilfield Friary in Dorset, and is inspired by Franciscan spirituality in its approach to loving and protecting all creation, living and working with those on the margins, and providing hospitality to all.
The Churchwardens
We have two wonderful church wardens, Mary Parker and Stephen Birch who work hard to look after the structure of our Parish Hall (also known as the beacon centre) and our 18th Century church. Alongside our many volunteers, they help to keep the church building safe and secure so that all our community can use it.
If you would like to contact Mary or Stephen please use the following emails.
Director of Music
Dylan McCaig is a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where he studied for a BMus (Hons) degree in Organ Performance, as well as a PGCE with QTS specialising in Secondary Education Music from Birmingham City University. Dylan has achieved multiple awards, including the Corton-Hyde Early Music Prize from RBC and ‘Contribution to Wider School Life” Award from BCU. He began his musical training at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral where he was a Head Chorister and subsequently Junior Organ Scholar. Dylan was appointed Organ Scholar of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham during his studies at RBC and became Senior Organ Scholar of Liverpool Cathedral upon graduating. As well as holding an ARCO from the Royal College of Organists, he has played in masterclasses for internationally renowned organists, Henry Fairs, Nathan Laube, Daniel Moult, Kimberly Marshall, Martin Schmeding, and Pieter Van Dijk as well as making televised appearances on ‘Songs of Praise’ in 2008 and 2019. His passion for early music has created opportunities for him to work with EMAE, ELM and organise large scale projects with his own baroque ensemble, the Calder Consort at various UK Cathedrals. Dylan was also harpsichordist for the prize winning baroque trio ‘Les Broderies,’ with the ensemble winning the Corton-Hyde Early Music Prize at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2022. He is currently Teacher of Music and Head of Pankhurst House at The Warriner School, as well as introducing an organ training scheme to Warriner, in partnership with the RCO.
To below for contact details for Dylan:
Parochial Church Council
Our Parochial Church Council currently has 20 (enthusiastic and supportive) members, comprising the clergy and lay minister, church wardens, lay diocesan and deanery synod members and ten members elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It normally meets six times a year, and is charged ‘to work with the promoting the whole mission of the church’. If you would like to find out more about the running of the church through the PCC please email our pcc secretary.
Volunteers
The church could not function without a band of volunteers, most have many hats and the opportunity to learn new skills, spend time with others and really make a difference to services, events and the church as a whole, it is really a great opportunity to get and be involved in a vibrant and growing church.
To register your interest in becoming a volunteer please complete the enquiry form.
