Clergy
Rev Laura Verrall-Kelly
Associate Vicar
Laura joined as Associate Vicar in 2023 and is responsible for all things community, outreach and ensuring SMR is a thriving and inclusive Christian community. Having previously been a Youth Worker, Laura has worked with people and various community groups for nearly 15 years. As a big extrovert Laura loves being with family and friends in her spare time, as well as travelling to new places and trying new pubs.
Email: laura.verrall-kelly@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Rev Simon Goodman
Curate
Simon is a self-supporting minister, working full time in the legal profession in Bristol. His background is in music, but these days he can often be found trying in vain to exhaust his family’s spaniel. If a pub can feature, so much the better.
Email: simon.goodman@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Canon Dr Stephen Spencer
Assistant Priest
Stephen works at the Anglican Communion Office in London supporting theological education across the Communion. The role involves some international travel, so he can be away at different times of the year. He lives in Knowle and also works from home and is delighted to lend an extra pair of hands at SMR, as a self-supporting minister. He enjoys walking, painting and going to concerts whenever possible.
Email: stephen.spencer@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Ministry
Keilah Ayuba Cadogan
Children, Families & Youth Minister
After years of working in healthcare, Keilah joined SMR in November 2023 as the new Children’s and Families Minister. Keilah will be taking on the role as Youth Leader this year alongside Laura Verrall-Kelly. She really enjoys social gatherings, working out and being creative. She also likes to share Christian encouragement online and really has a passion for people. In July 2024, her role was expanded to Children, Families & Youth Minister.
Email: keilah.cadogan@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Music
Joe Cryan
Director of Music
Joe has been making music at SMR since September 2023. Prior to this, Joe worked in London at Southwark Metropolitan Cathedral and leading music education projects across the capital. He has a passion for breaking perceived barriers of entry for communities that have previously felt disenfranchised from the arts.
Email: joe.cryan@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Claire Alsop
Assistant Director of Music / Organist
Claire has been playing the organ at SMR since 2003. Outside SMR she is a freelance musician working across the UK, and enjoys a range of music, including a love of musical theatre. Claire also works in an educational capacity, creating musical compositions, arrangements and resources for children across Bristol, including work with Bristol Beacon and two Bristol schools. Originally from Durham, she enjoys visits to her native north-east, and with 4 children, her hobbies now include watching football!
Email: claire.alsop@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Churchwardens
Richard Dyton
Churchwarden
Richard has been a church warden at SMR for over three years and enjoys the facilitation between congregation and clergy. He works three days a week in the Government Legal Department, where he enjoys the challenge of varied legal issues, and he chairs a number of charities, allowing access to legal advice for the disadvantaged. He is also on the project board of P450 and senses that the preparatory work for that project is gaining momentum and ready to move to the next phase. His hobbies include sailing, walking and cycling.
Email: church.wardens@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Operations
Chris Whitwell
Head of Operations
Chris joined the team at SMR as Volunteer Coordinator in 2022, having previously spent over 17 years in various church leadership roles. He took on the role of Head of Operations in January 2025. When not at work, Chris loves watching sport (including being a keen American Football fan), exercising, eating great food and drinking fantastic coffee!
Email: chris.whitwell@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Matthew Buckmaster
Head Verger
Matthew joined the team all the way back in December 2007. His responsibilities include manging the day-to-day operation of the church floor, and all the events and activities that go on in or around the church site.
Email: matthew.buckmaster@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Finance
Maria Holcombe
Finance Manager
Maria has worked in finance for more than 30 years and joined St Mary Redcliffe in 2022 from a charity in Bath. Working as finance manager involves anything and everything financial from statutory reporting to ensuring there is enough petty cash to buy the milk. In her down-time she enjoys being in the great outdoors, wildlife watching and if it's raining, speed jigsaw puzzling.
Email: maria.holcombe@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
William Liew
PCC Treasurer
William has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer at UWE Bristol since 2012. His role encompasses the leadership and direction of the Financial, Estate, and Commercial strategies of the University. As a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, William also holds various directorships and non-executive appointments, including his position as a Committee Member of the Avon Pension Fund and as the Steering Group Chair for the Chinese Community Wellbeing Society.
Email: pcc.treasurer@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Administration
Sam Love
Governance & Administration Officer
After many years working in the cinema and entertainment sector (and a stint in church operations), Sam joined SMR in 2023 and wears many hats, including that of PCC Secretary and the Vicar's PA. His time outside SMR is still largely dedicated to all things film through entertainment journalism and freelance cinema consultancy, when he isn't tinkering in his shed or out with his Jack Russell, Cosmo.
Email: sam.love@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Alison Watson
Parish Administrator
Before coming to St Mary Redcliffe, Alison was working on a project aimed at reducing carbon emissions in Sea Mills in Bristol. Alongside this, Alison also worked as a voluntary music teacher in a local primary school. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors walking with her family.
Email: alison.watson@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
parish.office@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Beth Herbert
Life Events Co-ordinator
Having previously worked in healthcare settings, Beth moved to administrative work for Bristol Diocese in 2022. Her other roles include Area Dean Assistant and Parish Administrator for St. Martin's, Knowle. In her spare time she enjoys family time, photography and craft.
Email: beth.herbert@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
life.events@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Community
David Cousins
Community & Youth Work Manager
David has been with St Mary Redcliffe since 2013 and oversees the Youth and Community Team. He loves watching live music and spending time outdoors. He is a keen runner, swimmer and Oxford United fan.
Email: david.cousins@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Andy Carruthers
Community Worker
Andy has been Community Worker since February 2022, after five year as a verger. His work includes managing the community hub on a daily basis, and outreach in the community including asylum seekers in the hotel. In his spare time, he loves football, food, music and people.
Email: andy.carruthers@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Katie Bignell
Youth Worker
As a registered social worker with extensive experience of working with children and their families in educational and health settings, Katie feels a desire to fully support our local young people and their families in the community. She adores being able to support and implement services and activities, and has made many connections within the community since joining St Mary Redcliffe in January 2023. She is so excited for further development and building even more connections.
Email: katie.bignell@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Heritage, Visitors and Commercial
Rhys Williams
Heritage Development Manager
Rhys joined St Mary Redcliffe in 2013 as Assistant to the Vicar & Researcher, primarily working on Project 450. During the following years, he assumed responsibility for marketing, digital, web, graphic design and heritage, and following Covid he developed the church’s commercial activities, improving the retail offer and establishing a programme of guided tours. Since 2023, he has been Heritage Development Manager, retaining his former responsibilities while developing the church’s heritage interpretation and establishing a programme of heritage-focused exhibitions.
Email: rhys.williams@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Lucy Marshall
Events Support
Lucy has worked in visitor experience in the South West for 3 years. She volunteered as a teaching assistant, specialising in music, before pursuing further study in Bath and moving to Bristol. She enjoys playing and writing music and supports other local musicians with live performances.
Email: events@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Safeguarding
Esther Keller
Parish Safeguarding Officer
Esther has been the Parish Safeguarding Officer since Spring 2020. Safeguarding was not new to her as she has taken responsibility for Safeguarding in a variety of roles in Education, but particularly as a headteacher. Esther retired as a head in summer 2019, but since then, to keep out of mischief, has fulfilled a casual teaching commitment in a school local to where she lives. With two children and four grandchildren, life is never dull. Esther travels to her native Holland several times per year to visit her brothers. She and her husband also have a close connection to Georgia in the Caucasus and manage the twinning arrangement between Bristol and Tbilisi. They visit Georgia at least once per year.
Email: safeguarding.officer@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
