President
Debra Burbery
Debra was born in Portsmouth but she spent her teenage years in North Yorkshire and has only recently ‘fallen into’ Unitarianism.
In her professional life she was a Biology and Chemistry teacher in state and private secondary schools. Since wandering into the building on an open morning, she has been regularly attending Shrewsbury Unitarian Church and has completed the Introductory Worship Studies Course held at Kingswood Church in 2016.
Vice President
Cressida Pryor
Although only a Unitarian for three years, Cressida has recently discovered she is descended from the Radical Dissenter Henry Solly and the MP William Smith, so feels the denomination is in her blood! She attends and is Secretary to Bayshill Church in Cheltenham, where Solly was minister. Her professional background is in the therapies, and latterly in adult mental health; with a special interest in working with new parents and their babies. She is self-employed, a new grandmother, a Morris dancer, and sings, if given half a chance! She is an Interfaith minister, and is currently studying the Intermediate Step of the Worship Studies Course.
The Immediate Past President
Diane Rutter
Is Salford born and bred! She spent the first 22 years of her life as a member of Pendleton Unitarians in Salford, then peregrinated via the Church of England and the wilderness back to Unitarianism over a decade ago.
Diane is currently Lay Assistant to Kingswood (and by serendipity Warwick) congregations. A touch typist by trade and a cleric by profession, previous employers include Tootal Fabric, The Sunday Express Sports Desk and the University of Salford.
The Secretary
Rev. Sue Woolley – BA., M.Phil
Sue is a fifth generation Unitarian. She is minister of the Banbury Unitarian Fellowship, and District Facilitator and Secretary of the Midland Unitarian Association, and Secretary of the Unitarian Peace Fellowship. She is also Worship Studies Course Tutor and Administrator. This year (2022/23) she is also President of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
The Treasurer
Sandy Ellis – TD, BA, FCMA
Sandy, a fourth generation Unitarian, is a member of Oat Street Chapel, Evesham. He has served on the Executive Committee and as Midland Unitarian Association Treasurer since 1983. He was a Manager of the Ministers’ Stipend Augmentation Fund from 1985 – 2012, and is a Director of the Ministers’ Benevolent Society. He served as Treasurer of the Sustentation Fund from 1994-2003 and was a Trustee of the Hibbert & Gregson Trusts from 1991-2003. A Chartered Management Accountant with over 50 years’ experience, he is a G.A. Qualified Lay Preacher and is a regular Preacher in Midland Unitarian Association Congregations and lives near Worcester.
Elected Members
Jane Couper
Brought up as an Anglican in a family more interested in politics than religion Jane became a Unitarian as a teenager. In her professional life she taught Religious Studies at an academic independent school and from the late 1980s she was an active member of Hale Chapel becoming its Chairman, then President of the Manchester District Association. In 2003 she moved with her husband to Evesham and now attends Oat Street Chapel. Recently she has been involved with “future ministry” and the District Associations Project.
Maria Govier
Biography to follow.
Kieren Mardle-Moss
Kieren first came across Unitarianism when developing materials for teaching – as a trained R.E. teacher.
Since 2016, He has been involved in the Unitarian Youth Programme – supporting 11 to 16-year-olds in their personal and spiritual development.
In more recent times, Kieren has stepped away from teaching and now works full-time in a Financial Services position and puts these skills to good use as, since 2020, he has been Treasurer at the Coventry congregation.
Kieren has led worship at Coventry as well as in neighbouring Districts and is a member of The Meditational Fellowship (TMF) and National Unitarian Fellowship.
Ann Matthews
Biography to follow.
David Mearman
David has been a member of Stourbridge Presbyterian (Unitarian) Church since 1966. He succeeded his late father as Organist, continuing a fifty year family tradition, and is the Secretary, and a Trustee. He lives in Stourbridge, Worcestershire.
David Taylor
I have been interested in spirituality for most of my life, with an active involvement with Buddhism, Paganism and the Quakers.
I have been involved with Unitarianism since the late 1990’s and since 2013 have been a regular member at Stourbridge Unitarian Chapel. I am a professional graphic designer.
Chris Thompson
Chris worked in secondary school science education, chemistry and physics. Her becoming a Unitarian in 2002, following a Unitarian funeral, was the ‘coming-home’ that so many others have described. Currently she is a member of Warwick Unitarian congregation and she has benefitted from Unitarian Women’s Group weekends, Hucklow Summer Schools, and more recently the Unitarian Music Society.
Aleks Zglinska
Biography to follow.
Representative Member Ministers’ Meeting
Rev. Sue Woolley
See above.