Who we are
Vicar
Bill Craft has been Vicar of Stapleford since 2003. He is married to Sue and
together they have two married daughters and two adorable grandsons. For twenty
years Bill worked in Personnel, now called ‘Human Relations’ managing
people and their problems. Perhaps a good training ground for his very active
work in the community here! It was when he was in his mid forties that he felt
the call of God into full time ministry. Leaving behind the industrial workplace
he trained at Oakhill Theological College and was ordained in 1989. Bill served
as a curate in Peterborough before taking up a post as vicar in inner city
Sheffield. Here he first saw the how the church and community can really work
together to change lives for the better.
Bill enjoys walking and gardening (when he has time!) and watching cricket.
He’s a lifelong supporter of Nottingham Forest and on match days it
takes a lot to keep him away from his regular seat down at the City Ground!
The best part of his job is seeing people’s lives transformed through
the love of Jesus Christ; and the worst? … ‘some people think
I only work one day a week!’
Curate
Dan Corcoran is married to Jenny, also training to be a curate. They met at
St John’s Theological College and married April 2006. Dan proposed
to Jenny on the shores of Lake Galilee, always the romantic!
Before coming into ordained ministry Dan has been a working with young people
in Moss Side Manchester, and in a Christian arts venue and nightclub in the
city centre. He has also been the full time Youth Minister at Emmanuel Church,
South Croydon, and most recently leading the youth work at New Addington Baptist
Church, before coming to ordination training at St John’s.
Although he never quite perfected the art of saying ‘ssshhh’,
Dan admits to training as a librarian, but his training in Information Management
and youth work gives him a passion in welfare information and he’s spent
time developing cyber cafes and school libraries. When he’s not working
in church Dan loves traipsing off into the hills in Derbyshire and finding
a local Wetherspoons to eat breakfast. He also has a penchant for ‘extreme
ironing’ much to Jenny’s relief!
Office staff:
Tracey Marvin (co-ordinator)
Audrey Clarke (weddings, baptisms & funerals)
Fleur Walker (publicity)
In addition in his role as Area Dean Bill is supported by Helen Lowmans (secretary)
Church Wardens:
Vera Allen, Paul Rodmell
Pastoral team leader:
Chris Bassford
Worship team leader:
Alan Kirkland
Children’s leader:
Jane Bessant
Youth leader:
Community Outreach leader:
Lucy Catlin