Meet The Team

Priest in Charge

Revd Canon Becky Stephens

From a very young age, I had a sense of God at work in my life. I attended church in a village called Gnosall, Staffordshire, where I was confirmed. I moved to Birmingham to study maths and trained to be a Maths Teacher. I have been ordained now for over 10 years and am committed to my calling as a parish priest.  It is a privilege to serve as the Priest in Charge here at Holy Trinity as it has a very special place in my heart. It was the church where my children were baptised and nurtured in their faith. It was also the place where I first began to discern a call to ordination. I therefore know there are many gifted and faithful people who make up the congregation of Holy Trinity, and who have a vision for the next phase in the life of the church. 

Associate Priest

Fr Graham Wigley

Born and bred in the Black Country, I felt a sense of vocation to ordained ministry when I was 15. Before ordination, I worked for HMV and was active in Churches in Wolverhampton City Centre. Working and worshipping in a City Centre opened my eyes to the needs of many people who are lonely, living with hidden pain and grief, and those who are isolated and on the margins of society, which reinforced my calling to ordained ministry and instilled a desire to reach out to those in need. I believe that church is a hospital for those in need and space where they can feel safe, included and at home. It is a real joy to minister here amongst God’s people in Sutton Coldfield and look forward to finding out what God has in store for us at Holy Trinity.

Assistant Priest

Paul Duckers

Born in Chester, I came to Birmingham when I was 12 years old. I eventually joined the Finance Department of Joseph Lucas Electrical Ltd.

Having enjoyed retirement for a time, a former Rector of Holy Trinity encouraged me to become a Reader. Ordination as a Priest came in 2010. 

Assistant Priest

Carol Hoare

I was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, but spent my teenage years in Middlesex, where I met my future husband, Terry.

I took a degree in English, married in 1968, and we spent three years teaching at a boys’ public school in Jamaica, before settling in Sutton Coldfield.

I was deaconed in 1991, and was privileged to be one of the first women ordained as a priest in 1994.

Safeguarding Officer

Sunita Samuel

Director of Music

John Nicholls

I live in Cannock Wood with my wife Margaret. We have two grown up children, Ellen and Andy, and 2 cats! I have a particular passion for church choral music but also enjoy the more contemporary worship songs, you may see me playing my bass guitar if the opportunity arises. Away from church, I am heavily involved in the amateur musical theatre scene, and am a keen sportsman, although very much from the armchair these days.

Warden

Stella Thebridge

I’m a lifelong Anglican, raised in Surrey.  I met my husband Dave at university. We started attending Holy Trinity when we moved into the parish in 1986 and our children were born and raised here.

I’ve been heavily involved with music in worship since 1987, co-edited the church magazine since 2001 and  oversaw the project administering the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which gave us a new church website, history resources and the volunteer stewarding scheme. 

Warden

Jean Soper

I grew up in Scotland where I joined the Church of Scotland and met my husband at university. We settled in Leicestershire and attended the village church with our three sons. Wanting to do more, I asked to be confirmed in the Church of England and then joined the PCC. 

We moved to Sutton Coldfield after retirement.  At Holy Trinity I have encouraged people's enthusiasm for reusing, recycling and growing fruit and vegetables which gained us the Eco Church silver award. 

Parish administrator

Jess Underhill

I grew up in Ross-on-Wye, in Herefordshire, then studied at Manchester University, before moving to Birmingham to work for Royal Mail for 10 years. My husband’s family own St Martin’s Nursing Home, in Wylde Green, so it was natural for us to end up living in Sutton.

We have 2 boys and I’ve spent the best part of 13 years at home with them. 

Scouting is a big passion in my life, and I am now Group Scout Leader at the Holy Trinity Scout Group. 

Site Facilitator

Jacquie

Having grown up in Sutton Coldfield, I went on to study at the now Birmingham City University, where I studied my Degree and Masters Degree, in Interior Design and IT. My husband and I opened our own design practice in 2003, concentrating on property development, maintenance and property management. I have worked whilst raising our three children and am now looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to work with Holy Trinity and it’s community.