Our Team

Revd Ian Tomkins

Vicar

Ian is married to Deborah and they have three grown up children (and two corgis!). He has always loved sport (playing it and watching it). Now that he doesn't do team sport, Ian enjoys the gym, swimming and cycling. St Matt’s folk will know how much Ian loves gardening, because he is always mentioning it in references to this and that. It clears his head, and gives him much joy.

Relatively local, Ian was born and brought up around Swindon, with the Tomkins roots strongly in Bristol for many generations, and the whole family really love living in the city. God has placed the communities they serve, and the needs of the city very much on their hearts.

Email Ian

Revd Ian Tomkins

Vicar

Ian is married to Deborah and they have three grown up children (and two corgis!). He has always loved sport (playing it and watching it). Now that he doesn't do team sport, Ian enjoys the gym, swimming and cycling. St Matt’s folk will know how much Ian loves gardening, because he is always mentioning it in references to this and that. It clears his head, and gives him much joy.

Relatively local, Ian was born and brought up around Swindon, with the Tomkins roots strongly in Bristol for many generations, and the whole family really love living in the city. God has placed the communities they serve, and the needs of the city very much on their hearts.

Email Ian

Revd Gaby Doherty

Curate

Gaby is excited to have been ordained in 2020 and feels very comfortable working for the church. She enjoys welcoming people into the church and leading Alpha. Outside of this she likes visiting the cafes in National Trust properties and buying books for her family and reading to them and herself.

She has a large, lively family and a cat who is planning the overthrow of the known universe in between naps.

EMAIL GABY

Revd Gaby Doherty

Curate

Gaby is excited to have been ordained in 2020 and feels very comfortable working for the church. She enjoys welcoming people into the church and leading Alpha. Outside of this she likes visiting the cafes in National Trust properties and buying books for her family and reading to them and herself.

She has a large, lively family and a cat who is planning the overthrow of the known universe in between naps.

EMAIL GABY

Revd Richard Pendlebury

Associate Minister

As a non-stipendiary minister, Richard has a day job as Chief Executive of the Anchor Society, a 250-year-old charity which supports elderly people in the Bristol Region. He has been working in the charitable sector for many years and particularly involved in setting up organisations which support homeless people, those suffering from economic hardship and those in prison. Richard was awarded an MBE for charitable services to the community in Bristol.

Outside work, Richard enjoys playing guitar, art (painting in mixed media) and walking. Married to Laura, he has two grown up daughters and a grand-daughter. They have been Christians for many years and love to see people find faith in Jesus.

Email Richard

Revd Richard Pendlebury

Associate Minister

As a non-stipendiary minister, Richard has a day job as Chief Executive of the Anchor Society, a 250-year-old charity which supports elderly people in the Bristol Region. He has been working in the charitable sector for many years and particularly involved in setting up organisations which support homeless people, those suffering from economic hardship and those in prison. Richard was awarded an MBE for charitable services to the community in Bristol.

Outside work, Richard enjoys playing guitar, art (painting in mixed media) and walking. Married to Laura, he has two grown up daughters and a grand-daughter. They have been Christians for many years and love to see people find faith in Jesus.

Email Richard

John Stilwell

Children, Family and Youth Minister

John is a born and bred Bristolian: everyone comes home here in the end. He has spent his professional life working with children and really enjoys talking to children and young people about Jesus and helping them grow in their faith. Do take the chance to listen to his storytelling at King’s Kids, if you get the chance.
Away from St. Matthew’s, he very much enjoys rugby, although in watching capacity only these days. He captains a local cricket team and was a member of the Bristol, Bath & Wells epic triumph in the Church Times Cup in 2018.

Email John

John Stilwell

Children, Family and Youth Minister

John is a born and bred Bristolian: everyone comes home here in the end. He has spent his professional life working with children and really enjoys talking to children and young people about Jesus and helping them grow in their faith. Do take the chance to listen to his storytelling at King’s Kids, if you get the chance.
Away from St. Matthew’s, he very much enjoys rugby, although in watching capacity only these days. He captains a local cricket team and was a member of the Bristol, Bath & Wells epic triumph in the Church Times Cup in 2018.

Email John

Julia Wright

Church Administrator

Julia joined the church office at the end of 2017 after returning from 22 years in Florence, Italy , with her Italian cat Orinoco. She loves meeting new people, and tries to bring her love of God to her work and interaction with the Parish family and local community. Her hobbies include Sci-fi films – “I’m a total Trekky!” - not long walks(!), cooking, sewing and dress design, and travel.

Email Julia

Julia Wright

Church Administrator

Julia joined the church office at the end of 2017 after returning from 22 years in Florence, Italy , with her Italian cat Orinoco. She loves meeting new people, and tries to bring her love of God to her work and interaction with the Parish family and local community. Her hobbies include Sci-fi films – “I’m a total Trekky!” - not long walks(!), cooking, sewing and dress design, and travel.