Our People

Sam is the Bishop of Stockport in the Diocese of Chester. After studying Theology at University, Sam trained to be a history teacher and then taught in a secondary school in South London for three years before moving to Nottingham to train for ordination at St John’s College. Sam served his curacy at St Thomas’, Lancaster before he became Priest-in-Charge of Ellel and Assistant Missioner in the Diocese of Blackburn. In 2011 Sam became Canon Precentor at Bradford Cathedral and Chaplain to the University of Bradford. He became Rector of Leeds in 2015 and was consecrated bishop in July 2021. Sam is married to Claire, who is herself ordained, and they enjoy the fun and challenge of parenting their children and looking after an ever-increasing menagerie of animals. Sam enjoys keeping chickens, birdwatching and walking the dog in his spare time. Sam has been the trustee of various charities, including an NGO working in a number of countries overseas. Having visited India and East Africa frequently in the past, he was privileged to visit Solomon Islands for the first time in 2024.

Michael has been the Archdeacon of Chester since 2010, and a trustee of MMUK since 2017. Michael has experienced of the benefits of his Diocese’s links with Melanesia and visited Solomons in 2016.

Stephen is the charity’s treasurer and is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and worked in general practice until 1999, when he and his family joined the Lee Abbey Community. He now works for a number of charities. 

Colin has recently retired after working in education for 33 years. He was the Executive Head of the Otter Vale Federation of Schools, and was instrumental in setting up a School Partnership with the Bishop Norman Palmer School in Solomons with his two schools in Devon. Colin has visited Solomon Islands twice, once on a teacher exchange and another time with his family.

Following a visit to Melanesia in 2011, Jacky took up the role of MMUK Trustee, as one of two MMUK Trustees appointed by the Archbishop of Melanesia. The area of communications is where Jacky has most input, as well as having recently joined a small team looking to support ordinands going out to Melanesia. Formerly an Associate Vicar on the Wirral, Jacky is now Chaplain of St John’s Foundation in Bath.

Kate is from Solomon Islands and has been living in the UK since 1997. She became a Trustee of MMUK in 2018 and has found the experience a huge joy and blessing. Kate is serving her curacy in the Diocese of Chester.

Jen lives in Liverpool, with her young family and is a committed Christian, actively serving in her local Church.  A primary school teacher for 20 years, she began supporting Liverpool Diocesan Board of Education as a consultant in 2012, working specifically with their RE subject leaders. In 2018, Jen took the role of Christian Character and training officer in Chester Diocesan Board of Education. As part of this role, she has worked with departments across the diocese, particularly around Growing Faith and most recently sitting on the Partners With Mission group. Jen has been actively supporting Chester and ACoM school partnerships over the last two years.

Arabella is currently the Dean and Chaplain of Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Chaplain also at Newnham College. Her academic background is in literature, beginning with a degree in English and Modern Languages (French) at New College, Oxford and she has a PhD in Medieval Literature and an MPhil in Theology from Cambridge. Arabella trained for the priesthood in Lincoln and at Westcott House, Cambridge. Arabella is married to another priest, James Robinson, who is the Vicar of Grantchester and St Mark’s Newnham. After seven years working in Grantham and then in and around Louth in the Diocese of Lincoln, they returned to Cambridge in 2022 with their two children, Aubrey and Ivor.

Sam is the Vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Fulham Fields and Chair of Youth Ministry in Communion. During an eventful visit to the Solomon Islands that coincided with the global pandemic, Sam spent time with the Melanesian Brothers, learning from their everyday holiness and the vibrancy of the Melanesian church. More recently, Sam completed a doctorate asking how the Church of England can engage faithfully as a politically established church through the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Rowan Williams. Sam’s other passion is sport– mainly football, cricket, and rowing.

Archbishop of Melanesia’s UK Commissary, Diocese of London, attends MMUK meetings in a non-voting capacity