Who’s Who

Clergy

Vicar – Revd Rod Corke

I am originally from Norfolk where I trained as a teacher and met and married my wife Rita. We have three children, Hilary, Laura and Simon. Laura is married to Matt and they have two young children.

I trained for the ministry at St. John’s Nottingham before completing a curacy at Trimley St. Martin and St. Mary in Suffolk. I became Minister in Charge of St. Mary the Virgin Walton, and in 1995 this expanded to Team Rector of the Orwell Team Benefice.

Rita and I arrived at St. Mary Magdalene in 2005 and we have been made most welcome here. Ministering in the centre of Taunton is challenging, rewarding and we enjoy it so much!

Associate Priest – Revd Dennis Cavaghan

I started life in Carlisle, though was brought up in Kensington, London. My working life began in farming back up in Cumbria, but in my later twenties I went to train for the ordained ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham. After a first curacy in Cheshire and a second at St Andrew’s Plymouth I became vicar of two parishes on the Exe Estuary, and then vicar of a parish in Tiverton.

I was married and had five children, and now have a growing number of grandchildren. I have been in Taunton since 1993 and been Associate Priest at St Mary’s since 1998. Over many years I have chaired Taunton Churches Together and other initiatives within the town. In 2007 I married Susanne who has two sons.

I enjoy all the opportunities for ministry that St Mary’s affords.

Curate – Revd Sheila Murray

My husband Andy and I moved to Taunton in 1994, and we have lived in Staplehay since 1996.

We have two children – Becca who is married and is a Children & Families Worker in a church in West London and Gus, who following in both his parents’ footsteps, is in the RAF.

I was brought up in North London and Suffolk but left home in my late teens. I have lived in many different parts of England and Scotland, and had a wonderful 18 months living in Norway.

In 2007 I spent two years studying for a Diploma in Theology Music and Worship at the London School of Theology. Then in 2010 I trained for ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon, near Oxford. I was ordained Deacon in Wells Cathedral in June 2011 and priested in 2012.

I enjoy reading books, spending time with my family (I am one of five children and have lots of nephews and nieces) and I love chocolate!

Others in the Leadership Team

Director of Music – Miles Quick

I was born in Taunton and studied music at Durham University and the Royal Academy of Music. I then worked in London at Merchant Taylors’ School and Westminster Abbey, and latterly in Norfolk at Norwich School.

Returning to my roots in Somerset, I have been Director of Music at Queen’s College since 2007. From September 2011 it has also been a great pleasure to work at St Mary Magdalene, and I hope that with God’s help we can all catch a glimpse of Heaven through being united in praise and worship with the angels in the roof!

Director of Choristers

This post is being covered on a temporary basis by Brian Cresswell, who was our former Director of Music.

Our choristers come from schools in and around Taunton. Our youngest member is 7 and the oldest 17! There is no audition to join us, all we ask is that you enjoy singing and you commit to a weekly practice on a Friday and sing one Sunday service a month.

If you would like to find out more about our choir do contact the Parish Office on 01823 272441 or just turn up at 7pm on a Friday.

Church Warden – Shirley Farrington

Church Warden – Mick Polley

Church Warden – Angela Bayliss

Parish Secretary – Margaret Laver

Parish Secretary – Kate Cresswell

Caretaker – Nik Hirst

Safeguarding Officers – Geoff & Jan Hay