He came to the benefice in 2004 and with a strong and supportive team has overseen the merger of Sywell and Overstone and the raising of the money to appoint a children's Worker and the reordering of St Nicholas Overstone. Prior to ordination he worked as a divorce laywer in Cambridge, London and Milton Keynes. He is married to Rebecca and has a son and daughter. Mrs Tracy Barford (Children's & Families Worker)
Tracy started work in the benefice in February 2009 employed by the Mears Ashby,
Overstone, Sywell and Hardwick Children's Workers Trust. For the last few years she has been working on Northampton East at part of the team in the Emmanuel Group of Churches. She is married to Julian and has three children, Chloe 16, Kristian13 and Abigail 9. They have two cats, a hamster, two leopard geckos, a corn snake, a Giant African Landsnail and a Jack Russell dog.
Tracy says "I am really excited to be so clearly called by God to the Benefice. It's a huge adventure to be moving forward with God especially as I loved my previous job so much and The Emmanuel group where I have been since I was 7 years old".
Mr Rober Barnes - Lay Leader Retired Head Teacher of Great Houghton Prep School he lives in the benefice and preaches within the team. Robert has a love for old cars and a passion for bringing the gospel to people where they are.
Mr Douglas Muir - Lay Leader
Douglas is married to Fiona and has a daughter and twin sons. He works in the field of IT and runs the men's group in the parishes. He also preaches on a regular basis.
Mrs Fiona Muir - Youth Leader/ Lay Leader
Fiona is married to Douglas and with Becky Beet leads Omega (11-18yrs). She and Douglas were born in Scotland and are now settled in Sywell with their daughter and twin sons. She is also a trustee of MOSH
Mrs Kate Payne - Parish Secretary and Administrator Kate sorts the Vicar out and does the admin in the benefice. She lives in Mears Ashby with her husband Richard and two crazy dogs.
We also have a fantastic team of Wardens and other people that enables us to keep the show on the road
Mears Ashby: Wardens - Mr Aubrey Payne and Mr Peter Corke
Warden Emeritus - Mr. Keith Brown
Hardwick; Wardens - Mrs Jackie Prime
Deputy Wardens - Mrs. Liz Hill and Mr. Tony Edwards
Sywell cum Overstone
Wardens - Mrs.Maureen Coles and Mr. Richard Harris
Deputy Wardens - Mr Neil Botterill , Mr Pete Holloway and Mrs. Margaret Welch
Verger at Sywell cum Overstone:
Mr Maurice Fitzhugh