People

Joy was licensed as our Vicar on Wednesday 26 April 2017 by the Bishop of St Albans. St Mary's was packed with members of the congregation and local community to welcome the Revd Joy Cousans and witness her being licensed.

Joy was previously Priest in Charge of High Hoyland, Scissett and Clayton West in the Diocese of Leeds. She trained for the ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Prior to ordination in 1992 she worked as a Youth Worker in London and Sheffield.

Stephen joined the ministerial team as the parish curate on 7 July 2018, after being ordained a Deacon by the Bishop of St. Albans the week before. Stephen was licensed as Associate Priest on 22 April 2021. Stephen is a Self-Supporting Minister, which means that he also has a job, as well as being ordained - he works as a university lecturer in Islamic Studies in London.

Stephen trained for the ministry on the Eastern Region Ministry Course, and lives in Leighton Buzzard with his family.

Licensed as a Reader in March 2002, Gordon is married to Christine (who organises St Mary's Coffee Rota). Gordon is now retired from his Business Development roll for a major defence contractor. His various church related projects include:

• Leading worship at St Mary's and All Saints and in other North Chilterns Group churches
• Chairman of Fund-raising Group
• Recent chairman of Carnival Committee
• Leading Confirmation Classes for young people
• Ex Officio member of PCC

Catherine Hayden has been member of St Mary's church since 1985. She lives in Edlesborough and is married to Martin; they have three grown-up children who were all baptised at St Mary's and who participated variously in the life of the church as choristers and servers. She retired from teaching at Edlesborough School in 2010 and is now a Foundation Governor of Dagnall Church of England School.

Having been a member of the PCC for more than 20 years, Catherine was elected churchwarden in April 2011.