MAKING JESUS KNOWN

Our Team

One parish, six churches

Biographies of our clergy team

The Revd Canon Deb Smith

Before ordination, I worked as a newspaper reporter around Manchester and then Dorset.

Married with two grown-up children and a dog called Polly, I love live music, theatre, film, and a good pub quiz. Walking in the stunning countryside where we live and swimming in the sea through all weathers keeps me going, too!

I didn’t go to church as a child but was baptised in my 20s and have stayed ever since.

I passionately believe the Church of God belongs to everyone: regular attenders and those who worry about coming through the church door.

The life of faith is lived wherever the people of God are.

The Revd Cally Burch

Before ordination, I studied modern languages at university and then worked as a solicitor in London on and off for 20 years.

I am married with two adult children, a dog and two cats. I led all-age and children’s worship in my local church in Guildford for nearly 20 years before ordination, studying for my theology degree at St Mellitus College in London.

My placement during those studies was at a church in an urban area of social deprivation. I then served my curacy in Fleet in Hampshire and have also done some prison chaplaincy.

I love being on, by or in the sea and spending time in nature, walking or gardening. I believe that all are welcome at God’s Table and I love finding creative ways to help people to connect with God, who loves us all.

The Revd Lorna Johnson

Before becoming a priest, I worked in criminal law, for environmental charities and in digital broadcasting.

I moved from Amsterdam to Bridport with my husband in 2009, after which my focus was community work with young people and families, and I began exploring a call to ministry in the Church.

I have a full-time paid role in the Salisbury Diocese as a community development adviser on a children and young people’s project.

I work for the Parish of Bridport for free for a further 12 hours a week.

I believe through ancient and new ways of connecting to the love of Christ, our whole community and planet can heal and grow. I think young people help us see all the possibilities!

The Revd John Rees

My faith came alive during student days in Derby and York. Before ordination in Bristol in 2006 I was Churchwarden of a Wiltshire market town church alongside family life and a career in the communications industry. I led change management and major defence communications projects.

Following curacy near Swindon, I moved to full time ministry in Salisbury Diocese in 2010. I was Rector of two different groups of rural parishes in Wiltshire for nearly 13 years before moving to Bridport in 2023 on retirement from paid ministry.

The central part of my calling is to help people know that God loves them and to help them discover and develop their unique God given talents. My ministry has a strong community focus, including support to schools and exploring new forms of worship.

My wife Anne and I have two adult sons and a 6-year-old grandson. My interests include walking, swimming, exploring and time with family and friends.