Who We Are
The Revd. Chris Moss
Chris was born in Croydon, and has a degree in music from exeter university, amongst many other qualifications.
Following a career in Social Work, Chris was ordained in the Diocese of Worcester in 1991.
He then became the Curate at Holy Trinity and St James, West Malvern, where he worked until 1996.
He became Vicar of Longdon, Castlemorton, Bushley and Queenhill with Holdfast in 1996.
Dr Michael Harper
Lay Minister
Michael is a retired Consultant in Palliative Medicine. He is married to Jane and has four married "children", eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild. He has been a Licensed Lay Minister since 2000.
He works internationally as a Tutor for a Christian medical education charity (PRIME), is Chairman of a local charity (Lyttelton Well) and also of a charity involved in the Christian Healing Ministry (Fellowship of Christ the Healer).
His role in the Benefice is to assist the Vicar in every way he can; and take responsibility for running Home Groups.
In his spare time, he enjoys walking with Pippin, a Border Terrier, and gardening (which for him amounts to controlling rampant growth of what he doesn't want, and competing with rabbits and pigeons for what he does want).
He has an ambition to gain expertise on the blues harmonica, and has made progress. He has the harmonica; but sadly not the expertise. And he prays for revival."
Wendy Thompson
Vicar's Administrator & Churchwarden
I moved to Longdon in 1998. This was a practical decision as Longdon is quite near to Tewkesbury, where my son was a Chorister and where my daughters also attended school.
I had been organist and choir mistress at St Peter's Church, Powick for over ten years, and was keen to begin a choir in Longdon St. Mary. I became Director of Music in 1999, and helped to oversee the installation of the 3 manual digital Rodgers organ in 2007. The choir became a real success story with almost 40 members at its peak -which caused havoc in the fairly small chancel! The choir was split into Senior and Youth Choirs. The Youth Choir sang in BBC competitions with very credible performances. I retired as Director of Music at Christmas 2021.
As Churchwardens, Shirley and I, together with the Vicar - Chris, oversaw many changes in the Church, including the installation of a new kitchen and WC, the creation of a social space at the back of the Church, an upgraded Vestry and a new floor in the Chancel. I also sat on the Worcester Diocesan Advisory Committee for twelve years.
Shirley Kirby
Churchwarden
I have lived with my family in Longdon since 1998. Prior to moving here I resided and worked in Milton keynes where I was head of Religious and Community Studies at a large comprehensive school.
I was born and brought up in Sunderland and attended university at Stirling and Durham. Apart from being a churchwarden at St Mary's I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening, keeping fit and spending time with my family, who are scattered pretty far and wide these days!
