Our Clergy Team     Rev Chris Rankine I’m 41, married to Fiona, with four children aged 13 to 19, we have two dogs, one as daft as the other is bright, but then it was the daft one that got herself in the paper for her work as a school dog! After I left school, I went to Portsmouth Polytechnic to do a degree in accountancy. It became very clear that it was not for me! I spent 6 months in India with USPG and a year working for the YMCA conference centre as a sort of duty manager/dogs body, got to do everything from greeting guests with truly unpronounceable names, running a bar and wine cellar, to waiting at table and running the dish washer. Somewhere in between and besides this lot, I worked as an accounts clerk and tax clerk for a couple of firms of accountants. I was ordained in 1993 in Portsmouth did my first post as a curate at Farlington, Drayton and Cosham; a brief stay in Gosport where Fiona and I got married, before moving to Romsey to serve as assistant priest there for three years. We came to Andover in 2000, where I have been serving as parish priest of St Michael’s, and planning to stay for some time…sorry folks! My sense of what I am called to is to enable the church to truly become “salt of the earth” and a “light of the world”; in which people of all ages and backgrounds are growing in their relationship with God and each other; where, as Christians, we live our faith in daily life; where the church has a practical, sacrificial, humble passion for the poor and oppressed; where we are reaching out to share God’s love in word and action; and where we come together to worship God joyfully and prayerfully, in the liturgy of the church and in the power of the Spirit. I’ve been involved in voluntary youth work for over twenty years. Currently running a small youth group on Burghclere Down (Hello Guys!!) and lead a team running one of the most exciting scout troops I’ve ever worked with –last year we walked the 84 miles of Hadrian’s wall, this year we’re doing the “three peaks” (Ben Nevis, Snowdon, and Scar Fell Pike in 24 hours). 2009 we’re supposed to be going to Switzerland, and doing another expedition. Social things I enjoy doing - seeing friends, eating good food, I prefer real ale or red wine, and I enjoy losing to anyone willing to play me at pool or chess; I enjoy cinema and theatre – last year we saw everything from “Ladysmith Black Mambazo” to Jo Brand, (I confess that it included going to see Neil Diamond – but I was conned, honest!) – I also have to admit that I’m going to see Ken Dodd this year – and I’m afraid I wasn’t conned. I like hiding away to enjoy doing some not social things like reading, gardening and DIY. Love sailing, but haven’t been in years, discovering canoeing, but yet to become a hobby as the canoes cost so much!  Back to Top of Page Rev John Taylor I was ordained Priest in 1993, and joined St Michael’s as Assistant Priest in autumn 2002. I love the warmth of the St Michael’s community – and the understanding and support that people have shown toward a minister who isn’t around much – my main focus of attention is in my weekday place of work. The growing accessibility of worship at St Michael’s to all people is very dear to me. I am 52, married to Fiona (a popular St Michael’s name!) and we have two teenage children, Lucy and Simon. I live 10 minutes walk from church, and only 2 minutes walk from my weekday work. Since 1984, I have worked for Hampshire County Council at Andover Day Services, with adults with learning disabilities. Before that, I worked in residential houses in Kent, Kincardineshire (where I met Fiona), Abbott’s Worthy and Andover. At work, I have developed new ways to use storytelling as an aid to communication and understanding (and now train other people in the art). I also sing a lot, make loud noises on the guitar, love making a mess with paints and dance in a way that seriously embarrasses my offspring. I made my public storytelling debut at Greenbelt Festival in 2006 (Billed as ‘Tales told before you get cold’ – an antidote to the toilet queue). And in my ‘spare’ time, I write novels. John is again a featured act at Greenbelt 2007.  To find out more, as Greenbelt prepare for his appearance click now which will take you into the Greenbelt site.  Back to Top of Page Rev Mary Vickers I was born in Devon but moved to Liverpool when I was 8 years old, and lived there until beginning ordination training in Nottingham in 1982. My pathway to priesthood mirrors the Church of England’s history in some ways - I was made deaconess on leaving college in 1985; became one of the first women to be ordained deacon in March 1987; and was ordained priest in June 1999. Since leaving theological college in 1985, I have lived in 8 different homes in England and 2 in Germany, so too many to list here. Alongside the moves, I have ministered in parishes, in world mission education, and in various chaplaincy contexts, including hospitals, shops, local government, the armed forces and sport. Do ask if you want to know more as I’m happy to tell. Along with my husband Peter, who is an army chaplain (hence many of the moves above), we moved to Middle Wallop in August 2006. I began attending St Michael’s in October and was licensed as an assistant priest on 7th January 2007. From my very first visit, I found a warm welcome at St Michael’s, and I’m enjoying discovering my role within the Body of Christ here. Alongside my role at St Michael’s, I work for SCORE, the UK’s sports chaplaincy organisation, as their Chaplaincy Coordinator for Women in Sport. If you’d like to know more about SCORE, feel free to ask or visit their website at http://www.scorechaplaincy.org.uk/ I’ve always been interested in sport, and have been a keen sportswoman (at an amateur level), and in recent years have run several marathons and many shorter races. I am also a qualified athletics coach and track official. I got into sports chaplaincy when along with Peter I was privileged to be part of the international, ecumenical, and multi-faith chaplaincy team based in the Athletes Village for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. You can read our Athens web-diary on the BBC website by pressing here. Back to Top of Page Captain Chris Lawton, Church Army Hi, my name is Chris Lawton and I am 41 years old I am married to Ruth and we have two Children: Rhiannon at 13 and Rhys at 11. I have been a Church Army officer for 15 years and during that time I have worked in Bath, Plymouth, Runcorn in Cheshire and recently at Carmarthen in South Wales. I have a passion (sadly not shared by the family) with anything to do with trains, Meccano and motorcycles (though I don’t own one at the present). Back to Top of Page Peter Watson, Church Army  My name is Peter Watson and I am married to Jade and have two children Leanne 13 and Dan 11. Jade and I have recently finished our training at Church Army in Sheffield and have started our first Posts. I am working with Chris Rankine and the team as a youth and children’s outreach worker to help Christianity and the work of the Church seem more relevant to the lives of young people. I am excited about being here in West Andover and have already begun to see God at work in the lives of young people in Andover. Jade is working in Winchester Prison both with the prisoners within the prison and as part of the resettlement team program. I enjoy running cycling and will always have a go at most sports as long as it is not too serious, as I like to have a laugh. Back to Top of Page

Clergy Team Rev Chris Rankine Rev John Taylor Rev Mary Vickers Captin Chris Lawton ChurchWardens Fiona Sexton Martin Watt Director of Music Chris Thompson PCC Secretary Angela Southern Parish Administrator Vacent Hall Manager Robin Stubbings Treasurer Frank Webb Verger Vacent Fellowship Groups Chris Rankine Prayer Groups Rosemary Clayton Bible Study Anne Webb Pastorial Barbara Baxter Social Sandra Goulding Worship Chris Rankine Flowers Fabric George Ray    Welcome Enid Gilbert Anne Webb