Anika is from the north of Germany and came to England to study Youth Work. It was during her time as youth worker for a church that she felt a call to ordination. Anika trained at Trinity College, Bristol and was ordained in 2016. She served her curacy in Warmley, Bitton and Syston and moved to Keynsham in September 2019.
Her passions in ministry are to build up relationships with people, encouraging people on their faith journey and the church’s approach to the climate emergency.
Anika is married to Dan and they have two boys. She enjoys spending time with her families, watching football, being outdoors and taking photos.

Team Rector

Our parish is currently seeking a new Team Rector, a key role within the parish.

Paul is one of the Readers in Keynsham Parish where he helps run the 11.00am Informal Service at St John’s.
Paul moved to Keynsham, in the pandemic, from Bristol diocese where he trained as a Reader and with his wife Alison ran a Messy Church in Yate.
Prior to taking early retirement, Paul worked as a supply-chain engineering manager for Hewlett Packard.

Rachel has lived in the Keynsham area for 40 years and has been a member of St John’s congregation throughout. She was licensed as a Lay Reader in 1999 - so this October (2024) will be the 25th anniversary of her licencing!
Rachel studied biochemistry at the University of Leeds and then went on to do postgraduate research at the Universities of Leicester and Berne (Switzerland).
As a Reader Rachel is drawn to leading a quiet meditative services such as Evening Quiet Worship and Taizé services. The healing work of Christ is also important to her and she feels privileged to anoint for healing during some services.
Rachel is a member of a Franciscan Order (TSSF) and is currently a Novice Guardian and Area Secretary.
Rachel is married to Len and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren (who are a great joy to her).
She loves working in her garden and used to be a beekeeper.
For many years her garden was part of the National Quiet Garden Movement.

June has lived in Keynsham for 24 years, originally hailing from St. Helens, Lancashire, and previously spending some time in South Africa.
June has two children and one grandson.
Licensed as a Lay Reader in 2006, June discovered Celtic Spirituality during Reader training, which led to becoming a Companion of the Northumbria Community and arranging Celtic Folk services in the Parish.
June enjoys an eclectic choice of music – classical, opera, folk and good old rock and roll, along with pastimes such as reading, the theatre, a good film, especially those which explore a period of history; a gripping TV series and documentaries that highlight any social ills.
It’s very important to June to draw aside for a while with contemplative activities such as meditation and retreats and she believes strongly in the power of prayer.

Our family moved to Keynsham in 1996, and our daughter and grandson also live here.
Over the years Graham and I have been involved in various aspects of parish life: music, children’s work, house groups etc. making friends and sharing life’s joys and sorrows.
I studied archaeology, and began my working life as a primary school teacher, before moving into heritage education.
I trained in Spiritual Direction in 2008, accompanying people who seek to deepen their spiritual lives and discover ‘God in All Things’. In 2013 I was licensed as a Lay Minister to the parish.
Although mainly based at St Francis church, I am happy to be part of the whole parish family.
I lead ZAG (Zambia Action Group), the team that coordinates our flourishing parish link with the parish of Chipata South, Eastern Zambia.
I enjoy reading, going on expeditions in our elderly campervan, and discovering the delights of grandparenthood.

Trevor’s post is part of Bath and Wells forward-looking Pioneer Project, inspiring a culture of innovation across the diocese. As a pioneer in Keynsham Trevor has been tasked with capturing a shared vision of God’s Kingdom with the people already living there, seeking out men and women of peace on the new estate of Hygge Park where he’ll be living, and acting as a connector between the town and the new community.
Trevor joins us from Torquay in Devon where he was instrumental in setting up and running the Living Room Café. Trevor and his wife Holly, together with the younger members of their family, will be living on a new housing estate which is under development at the moment. Trevor says it is “a great opportunity to get alongside what’s already in Keynsham and bring that into the new estate. I will get to know people there as it grows and develops; it will be easy to be a member of that community that signposts people into the Kingdom in a very gentle way.”

Music director: Sam — **Sam Shackleton**

Music Director (St John’s)

Sam is originally from Kent, but moved to Southampton in 2012 to study music. During his time in Southampton, he felt God's call to put his musical study to good use in ministry. He has previously served as an organist, choral director, workshop and band leader, and over the COVID-19 pandemic, even as a producer and audio technician!
Sam moved to Bristol in 2021 when his wife Catriona began study as an ordinand at Trinity College, and he joined St. John's in 2022. He loves being able to help people worship through song, and is passionate about encouraging people to explore the many different ways music can be used to uplift worship and help us encounter God.
When he's not making music, you can probably find Sam out walking his dog, tinkering with computers and AV kit, or at home playing board games.

Youth worker: Pip Lovell — **Philippa Lovell**

Parish Youth Worker

Philippa (or ‘Pip’!) is originally from Essex but has lived in Dubai and Wales before moving to Keynsham in 2018. She has a degree in psychology but has always had a heart for working with young people and helping others in the community. She previously worked with The Lab, Newport, a fresh expressions, pioneer ministry, based around youth and community work before she moved to Keynsham and officially joined the team in August 2019. She loves working with young people, helping them to deepen their faith, have fun, and exploring what it means to be church.
Philippa enjoys singing and is even a member of St John’s choir. She also loves playing board games and relaxing with a good TV series or film.

Children and families worker

Post currently vacant

Facilities manager: Vanessa — **Vanessa Body**

Parish Facilities Manager

Vanessa is from Bristol and lived in various parts of the city before moving to Keynsham in 2006. She started off her working career in the financial sector before working for the Department for Education. After a career break to have her son, she started working for Bristol Insight, the open-top bus company, as their Office & Communications Manager. Vanessa took on the role of Parish Facilities Manager at the end of August, 2021.
Vanessa currently volunteers at the Keynsham Oxfam bookshop. She is married to James and has one son and an affectionate beagle-cross. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family and friends, watching old films, going to the theatre, photography and reading.

Office manager: Lin — **Lin Fry**

Parish Office Manager

Lin joined St John’s in June 2023 in the role of Keynsham Parish Office Manager. In addition to overseeing the general running of the Parish Office, the main aspects of her job involve arranging baptisms, weddings and funeral and dealing with the associated parochial fees.
Lin was born in Bristol and has lived here throughout her life as did the generations of family before her. Since studying for a Master’s Degree in Business Management at the University of West England Lin worked as a Human Resource Manager and People Advisor. Lin left her last role at Pukka Herbs in January 2020 and during this time has been helping her son-law set up a small family business in and around Keynsham / Saltford area.
Lin is a Mental Health First-Aider and during Covid volunteered for the Royal Voluntary Service where she was on hand to talk to people who felt isolated. Her leisure time is spent attending various handicraft workshops, having quality fun time with her family especially her grandchildren and reading when time allows.