Leaders « The Parish of Bursledon

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All members of leadership team with an email icon under their name can be emailed by using the format firstname.surname@bursledonparish.org, otherwise please contact the office. (why do we not provide email links?).

Vicar: Peter Vargeson After 15 years in the insurance industry, Peter felt God’s call into full time ministry and after 2 years at Oxford was ordained in 1987. He has been Vicar of Bursledon for almost 15 years, during which time he has seen the church grow and the new church of St Paul’s developed and completed. In ministry he enjoys seeing God use people in a variety of ways and the parish benefiting from the gifts, skills and service they offer as we seek to share the love of God in the community. When time allows he also enjoys sailing, walking the hills of Wales and playing the guitar. He is married to Sandy and they have three grown-up children.
Curate: Celia Parkes Celia was ordained in July 2009 after training on the STETS course and has been part of the team at Bursledon since 2003, moving to live in the parish in 2006. She has experience of working with older folks in the community as well as working with young people and children, including in schools. She is passionate about sharing the gospel of love with people of all ages and from all backgrounds. She and her husband Mike both have a love of the countryside and come from a rural background and when she’s not working, Celia enjoys sailing.
Curate: James Ogley James is in his early 30s and prior to joining the team at Bursledon, he trained at St John’s College, Nottingham. He is passionate about musical worship and helping release people into ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit. James is married to Amanda and they have a young son, Callum.
Youth Pastor: Tony Palmer
Children’s Worker: Bernadette Taylor Bernadette is a semi retired primary school teacher. She is married to Peter and they have two grown-up children: Sean and Nicola and three grandchildren: Morgan, Chloe and Martha. They enjoy spending time with their family and helping to look after their grandchildren. Prior to moving into the area Bernadette lived and worked in Yorkshire and was involved in children’s work in the Diocese of Wakefield. Bernadette enjoys being a member of the local amateur dramatic society, reading and cooking.
Reader: Peter White
Reader & Church Warden: Peter Taylor Peter is a retired industrial chemist, married to Bernadette and they have two grown-up children Sean and Nicola and three grandchildren Morgan, Chloe and Martha. Family activities are very important to Peter and Bernadette. Prior to moving into the area Peter lived and worked in Yorkshire where in 1992 he was licensed as a Lay Reader in the Church of England. Peter is a Governor at Bursledon Infant School, and amongst his other interests are walking and photography
Reader: David Sharps
Church Warden: Tony Houston
Administrator: Mike Watts Mike was born in Dorset in the mid 1950s and brought up in the Salvation Army. Having moved to Jersey a couple of years previously, he joined the Church of England in 1981. He moved back to the mainland in 1999 and married Lynne. He and Lynne now live in Hamble, near to Bursledon, and Mike has two grown-up step-children, Emma and Graeme. He has been the Parish Administrator at Bursledon since October 2000. Mike has far too many interests to list them all but bird-watching and supporting AFC Bournemouth rank highly among them.