Meet the Team

Our churches are looked after by wonderful volunteers and supported by our ministry team. If we can help with visits, local support or other arrangements, please get in touch via our contacts page. Our ministry team is led by Rev Robert Stone. if you join us for worship or a life event these are the faces you are likely to see at the front, they love to chat and would be delighted to meet you.

Rev Robert Stone - Vicar

I was born in Felsted and grew up locally and attend Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow.

I had what could be called a conversion experience aged 19, and in my twenties became a licensed lay preacher at Barnston and Little Dunmow.

I started to explore ordained ministry in 2014, attended St Mellitus Theological College and served my curacy at St Peter's Church in Bocking.

All this was done whilst working in Local Government. I was appointed here to my first full-time clergy post in 2020.

My greatest hope is that more and more people realise the depth of God's love for them
and respond to God's invitation to walk in the light of that love seen most perfectly in Jesus

Rev Gary Fleming - Assistant Curate

Hello, I am the Reverend Gary Fleming and I am the Assistant Curate within the Benefice of the Easters, South Roding’s and Great Canfield. I haven’t always been a priest; I was a firefighter for many years and a teacher for a few, this has very much shaped my sense of what ministry should be about. For me it is about location and service, and most of all it should be enjoyable and where possible, fun.

For me being a Christian is about offering loving service to others. This is something that I have seen others play out in our communities and I very much enjoy being part of rural communities who have a real sense of what it is to respond to the rallying cry to help and serve each other.

If you would like to hear about our churches and ministry, or what is means to be a Christian then please do chat with me or one of the local team’.

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Rev Jo Wood - Assistant Curate

I was born and grew up in NW Essex and have lived in Great Dunmow for the past 25 years. Before ordination I had a varied teaching career, including three years in Nepal. I also spent time working in public libraries and with a charity supporting prisoners and their families. Most recently I worked as a peripatetic clarinet teacher.

As well as music, I love reading, so I’m often found with my nose in a book. I also enjoy exploring local and family history; spending time in the garden or on the allotment and getting out for walks in our lovely local countryside.

Christian faith and belonging to the family of the church has always been an important part of my life. I was ordained in 2021 and my training included a particular focus on rural ministry. I love to see rural churches and communities flourishing and caring for one another and feel privileged to be able to join in with what God is already doing here in the Rodings, Easters and Gt. Canfield.

Rev Tim Goodbody - Associate Minister

I grew up in Buckinghamshire, and have lived in France, Yorkshire, Cornwall Oxford Wiltshire, and Dorset before making Essex my home. Although my great grandfather was a Methodist minister I did not start going to church until I was about 20, when I began a journey of faith and discovery which continues to this day. I inherited from my parents a love of West Ham Utd (dad) and Liverpool (mum) and caught from my wife a love of campervans (especially vintage Bedfords). I enjoy cycling and running and I listen to a lot of music, mostly loud and played on guitars. Ruth and I have been married since 1994 and our children are now grown up. Our two cats keep us busy though!

I work in the diocesan offices in Chelmsford, with those who are exploring a calling to ordained ministry, and through that I preach in in lots of different churches across Essex and East London on Sundays but I am blessed to be able to serve in such a great team here.