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.

Colin retired after working in education for 33 years, latterly as Executive Head of the Otter Vale Federation of Schools, where he 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 three times, once on a teacher exchange, another time with his family, and in 2025 in his role as MMUK Trustee.

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, a primary teacher for over 25 years, works as the Distinctiveness and SIAMS 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 

Angela trained for ordination at The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham and served her curacy at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. She is now an Anglican tutor at Queen’s. Her involvement with MMUK began during her curacy, as St Martin’s has frequently welcomed visitors from the Solomon Islands. In June 2024, she travelled to the Solomon Islands and spent time with three Anglican religious communities on the main island. The visit offered a profound opportunity to learn from the faith and culture of the people she met, and she is deeply grateful to MMUK for making the experience possible.

After three years in Malawi as a missionary with USPG, Dave has spent much of the past 30 years working for Anglican and Methodist mission societies in the UK. Roles have included mission education, fundraising, communications, grant funding, and managing UK staff and overseas mission personnel. He also served as Executive Officer of MMUK prior to Katie Drew.

Sue is an active member of the Mothers’ Union, and her long-standing commitment to the Melanesian Mission UK includes serving as Treasurer from 2013 to 2016. Now retired, Sue continues to play a vital role in her parish, serving on the Parochial Church Council and managing the church shop. With a deep appreciation for MMUK’s mission and values, Sue is delighted to return as a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer, bringing her experience, faith, and enthusiasm to support the charity’s work.