Parish of Greenside
Leadership Team
Hopefully you have seen Tom about and maybe even shared a pint with him at the club. Tom is a dad and a husband. He loves ice skating and 3D printers. And he's the local vicar.
Most importantly, though, Tom is someone who has discovered that life only makes sense when we give everything to Jesus and ask him to take charge. Since doing this at a young age, Tom has followed a wonderful adventure with Jesus which has eventually brought him from South Africa, where he grew up, to the North East to serve as a priest in the Church of England.
Rosemary loves being part of her church family in Greenside Parish and considers herself greatly blessed in coming from a large family, where she has now reached the stage of being a great, great aunt!
Today she is a retired priest with Permission to Officiate in Durham Diocese, presiding at Eucharist, preaching, conducting funerals, and leading the Pastoral Care Team, along with Mike and Pastoral Minister Cath. And occasionally, Rosemary helps out by serving in other parishes, when needed.
Back in 1998, Rosemary and Mike led 'The Way of The Spirit' courses in Nairobi.Today she is experiencing the joy of its expansion throughout Kenya, through ex-student and friend Pastor Job Barasa. Rosemary also continues in her many years of involvement with a children's school in Kenya.
Mike says, 'I became a Christian in my late 30’s at Peterborough Faith Camp. Since then I have served in the church as a Youth Leader, also within a worship team singing and leading. I became a Co-Warden, then Warden. I'm a Home Group Leader and now a Licensed Lay Minister. I also conduct funerals, which has opened doors into the local community. I lead the Pastoral Care Team too, with my wife Rosemary and Pastoral Care Minister Cath.
We have also worked in several areas in Kenya and have visited many countries and cities doing outreach work with other churches, including Bogota, Colombia, Oradea in Romania, Salima Bay and Lilongwe in Malawi. I have also enjoyed some weeks of mission in Uganda, leaving Rosemary at home to complete her dissertation.
Churchwarden Cath Jones.
Hello, I'm Cath Jones, Mam to six adult children and Grandma Bangles to Logan, Mia, Jocelyn, Estelle, Evan, Sophia, Tyler, Flynn, Fletcher. After the Lord, my family are my life. I grew up in Greenside and have lived in Crawcrook for the last 37 years. I love being part of the Church family and take my duties as Church Warden very seriously. I am a Lay Pastoral Minister which is a great privilege and enables me to meet the beautiful people in the Parish and beyond. Sounding a little like Buzz Lightyear there!
I love music, listening to, singing and playing guitar and the keyboard at St John's Church when I open up each morning. I am an avid reader, have been since I learned to read at an early age, with eclectic tastes in both books and music. I love to learn and study and especially enjoy the research. I was lucky enough to have two brilliant careers, as a Teacher for 27 years then at the age of 49 returned to University where I gained my qualification as a Social Worker which saw me out to my retirement in 2013. Age is not a barrier to continued learning and further qualifications. Although I loved my two careers, I really wanted to be a Long Distance Lorry Driver. I have a passion for driving and will drive anywhere, anytime. Keep me in mind if you need to be anywhere. I prefer DIY to housework and can't knit to save my life. I love tools. I have an angle grinder which my eldest daughter thought hilarious. It has been used. If you see me around, please stop and say hello, I'm not as scary as I look.
After years of being a church member here St John’s and Holy Spirit, Tricia felt it was the right time to join the Leadership Team as Churchwarden, alongside Cath.
She says ‘Prior to this role, I helped with youth work in the church for many years. Having raised two children in Greenside, I have had the privilege of being part of this all age extended family for three decades. I was brought up as a Christian and my father was vicar of this parish during the 1990s, but it’s been a continual process of learning and growing. It’s often through the hardest times that we see God most at work in our lives.’
Tricia lives in Greenside with her husband David, dog and cat, with her grown up children now at university. She works full time in health and social care across County Durham, in a strategic role that aims to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society get the support and care they need.
In her spare time, Tricia enjoys getting outdoors with family and friends and in being creative, whether that’s cooking, music or art - when time allows.
Paul Hobbs loves golf, fishing and football. He serves on Bishop Council, is Lay Chair of Gateshead West Deanery and is Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) at Greenside Parish. Paul also works as Lay Chaplain at The Shirley Community Chaplaincy (North East).
