St Mary’s Ministry Team

Revd Elizabeth Lowson

Rector
020 8505 3000

Elizabeth arrived at St Mary’s as Rector in February 2021.  Her previous ministry was in Great Missenden in the Chilterns. She is passionate about discovering God’s love within communities and has volunteered in many team and leadership roles, including several years both working and volunteering with Samaritans.    Before ordination, Elizabeth was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, conducting research to improve end of life care and cancer survivorship.

Contact Elizabeth

I am a designer/craftsman in precious metals by training and have spent over 25 years in full-time education. I was until recently a university lecturer in an art and design department and have now returned once again to the freelance life. My Christian journey began with a love of religious art in my college days and art as a vehicle of spiritual understanding still remains important to my ministry.

The rest as they say, is history…..

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Mark Lewis

Reader
020 3505 3000

Rowena attended Woodford County High School and read History at Southampton University. She worked for Selfridges for six years before embarking on her P.G.C.E. She lived for two years in South Africa. Since returning to England most of her teaching has been in the London Borough of Hillingdon. She was licensed as a Reader in the Diocese of London in 1983. She returned to Woodford in 2003 and was licensed in Chelmsford Diocese in 2004.

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Rowena Rudkin

Reader
020 8505 3000

Mark Spencer Ellis

Authorised local preacher
020 8505 3000

After studying English at university, Mark taught for over 40 years in Secondary Schools, with a particular focus on Sixth Form students. He helped to run Redbridge Night Shelter when it was at St Mary’s and also when it moved to a permanent home in Ilford. He has just stepped down after 18 years of being a trustee of The Renewal Programme, a major charity based in Newham, where he chaired the Board of Management for 10 years. He has also served St Mary’s as Churchwarden, and is currently a member of The Chelmsford Diocese Educational Trust.

The Bishop of Chelmsford recently made him our first Authorised Local Preacher.

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Chris Winward

Reader
020 8505 3000

I spent most of my working life as director of a small company manufacturing metal goods.My spiritual life  and service to God developed when,in my 30’s,I was called into teaching and leading young people. I subsequently completed the Course for Christian Studies and then followed God’s further call in training to be a Reader (or Licensed Lay Minister) being licensed by the Bishop of Chelmsford in 1998.In this role,I have led worship and preached on a regular basis. In recent years,the main focus of my ministry has been in pastoral work-visiting the sick and elderly-and taking funerals.

Contact Chris