Who’s Who
The Rev Phil Townsend – Vicar
I am married to Ranee (from Sri Lanka who works as a community Dentist in Rotherham) and have three sons, Alex, Josh and David. Apart from spending time with the family I enjoy sharing meals with friends, watching good films, ‘playing’ with my computer. Occasionally I can be found on the rowing machine – with ambitions to start squash again at some point!
Contrary to what most people might imagine, I haven’t always been “religious”. From a ‘hippie’ type lifestyle, I became a Christian while at University in the early 70’s. This transformed my life and I then spent several years working in a Christian Community centre in London trying to help other young people to discover the life-changing Love of God.
I have been at St Tim’s since 1988. Over the past few years the church has had to change and I have had to change with it. Faith is like a good wine – it mellows with age. It is a great privilege to be a Vicar and to be paid to do what you love to do. I can be contacted by email or at the church office by telephone on 0114 2661745.
The Rev Sarah Walsh – Curate
Sarah comes to us from York where she was working as a curate in 6 rural churches. She has a grown-up daughter, Lucy. Sarah is a Non-Stipendiary Minister, (NSM) which means she gives all her time and energy for free! Her day time “work” for which she gets paid is piano teaching. She plays the organ was well, but has so far escaped having to play the organ and lead services.
Roger Makin - Reader and Warden
Roger has been at St Tims for ever(!) and is a nurse tutor, apart from being a husband and that father of Lizzie aged 8, and 2 grown-up children. He has written his own children’s book, “The Holey Stone”.
Mark Osborne – Lay Reader in Training
Mark Osborne has just finished the first year of a three-year train
ing course to become a licensed Lay Reader. The course is run by the Diocese of Sheffield and is held on one Sunday every month at the Church Army’s Wilson Carlisle College of Evangelism in the city centre. He has found the course extremely challenging and interesting so far, though it has been hard work at times to combine the course with family life, two children and running a business. He thanks everyone for their support so far and hopes that you find his sermons and services challenging and not too long!!