Who’s Who

Our Vicar

Fr Mark Heather (telephone 01903 879877) has been Vicar of Steyning and Rector of Ashurst since Eastertide 2017. He was prepared for ordination at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield in West Yorkshire. His previous job was Chaplain to the Bishop of Guildford. Before that he was a curate and then a vicar in Leeds. Before ordination he worked in human resources at the British Council and married Katherine (who grew up in Texas). Their vicarage cats are growing fast but it doesn’t seem long since they were both very small.

Our Churchwardens

Our two wardens, appointed at the 2026 Annual Parish Meeting, are Kate Burnett (left), who lives in Steyning, is a foundation governor at Steyning Primary CofE school, plays the cello with our music group and sings in our choir and several other local choirs; and Judie Thomson (right), who also lives in Steyning, is married to Bill, and is an Authorised Lay Minister and the church Pastoral Care Coordinator. The churchwardens can be contacted here.

Families and Children’s Worker

Gary Pickett leads all of our work with families and children. He joined St Andrew’s & St Cuthman’s in 2024, having worked as a professional church youth worker for over seven years. Gary holds a certificate in Theology, Ministry and Youth Ministry and is an Authorised Lay Minister. He loves kayaking and running mission trips to a school in Uganda.

Director of Music and Organist

Brian Sawyer ARCM GRSM FLCM PGCE (01903 816008) has held a number of organists’ posts. He trained at the Royal College of Music, winning several major awards for organ playing. Brian has given recitals in many venues including Chichester, Portsmouth and Arundel Cathedrals. To contact Brian by email, click here.

Our Honorary Clergy

Canon Nigel Hartley (right in photo) ministered in Suffolk for over 30 years. His final post was as Vicar of Aldeburgh. Before ordination he worked for the BBC. He served for many years as Radio Officer for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, alongside his duties as a parish priest. He is married to Jill. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Fr Ray Jones (left in photo) served his curacy in the Diocese of Exeter and was then chaplain to a Woodard School. He was a Royal Naval Chaplain and Royal Naval Director of Ordinands, and an Honorary Chaplain to HM Queen Elizabeth II. Before he retired was Director of the Divine Healing Mission, now the Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre. Fr Ray has been married to Maureen for over 60years. They have three sons and six grandchildren.

Fr Peter Attwood worked in banking for 34 years before ordination. He served his curacy at Langton Green in Kent and then became Priest-in-Charge of four parishes on Exmoor. Peter and his wife Sue live in Beeding and have a daughter in Brighton, and a son in Henfield with another son (and family) in Barcelona. Peter enjoys sport and music, singing with the Shoreham Oratorio Choir.

Canon Paul Rampton was Vicar of Steyning and Rector of Ashurst from 1995 until his retirement in 2012. He lives in Shoreham-by-Sea, where he is a member of the Associate Clergy at St Mary de Haura, and we are pleased to welcome him back to Steyning on a regular basis as a visiting priest.

Our Parochial Church Council

The PCC is chaired by the Vicar, Revd Mark Heather, and comprises the churchwardens and the following elected members. The full list of PCC members may be found here.