The Team

Introducing the team at St. Mary Magdalene, Longfield.

Rev Elizabeth Robertson

Associate Priest

Elizabeth Robertson

Elizabeth is a Self-Supporting Minister or SSM in the RNWK Group. What does that mean? I am a full time Priest but not responsible for a particular parish, I take services and preach right across the Group. I also work as an accountant and so try to live out my faith in the business community.

Combining a day job and ministry as well as family life (husband, two grown up children and four cats) means a lot of juggling, I trained part-time for three years at SEITE (now St Augustine’s College) before being ordained in 2006. It was great preparation for the undoubted tensions of living in the world but not of the world!

When I’m not at work (church or accounts and tax) I really love enjoying the beauty of creation, whether a walk in the Kent countryside, from the back of a narrow boat or rambling in the Lake District.

Rev Jayne Shillito

RNWK Group Curate

Jayne is curate to the Rural North West Kent Group of churches (which includes Ash, Ridley, Fawkham and Hartley and Longfield.) Jayne was ordained in September 2021 as deacon and ordained in September 2022 as priest.

Jayne began her ministry as curate across the RNWK Group in September 2021.

Jayne’s curacy will last for three years. She explains “this is a special time where I get to know and love the congregations across the group. It’s sort of like an apprenticeship to becoming a vicar”. During these three years Jayne has the privilege of conducting funerals, weddings and baptisms and presiding at Holy Communion while learning all she can about the churches workings.

Before beginning her training for the ministry at St Augustine’s theological college in 2018 Jayne was a primary teacher.

Jayne is married with three children and enjoys sharing the gospel through puppets and story. She also enjoys walking, reading and games nights with family and friends.

Steph Perfitt

Lay Minister & Anna Chaplain

Hello, I’m Steph Perfitt and I am Nana to 4 lovely grandchildren who are my joy and treasure.

I have lived in New Barn for 8 years now (so I am still a new kid on the block!) However, my husband Roger has lived, worked, and been a Dartford Borough Councillor for donkey’s years!! This has been great for me as I’ve been able to get to know the community and the people who live in it very quickly, so I feel as though I’ve lived here for much longer.

I really enjoy being in community, being and sharing my life with other people and their lives. My role as Anna Chaplain gives me the privilege of meeting up with our more senior members of society whom I love, and I always find uplifting and certainly give far more to me than I could ever give to them.

And as a Licensed Lay Minister I am able to bring my love and passion for people together in my love of worship and preaching.

I enjoy cycling and being outdoors, in God’s creation, and I know I meet God there as much as everywhere else.

God bless you all

Steph x

Pauline Foster

Lay Minister

 

Liz Gale

Churchwarden

 

Paul Harrison

Churchwarden

Paul was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene as a baby and has worshiped continually there since taken confirmation classes in 1988. He has been involved in a wide range of activities over the years supporting the life of the church and the community it server.

Paul has been a youth leader for over 25 years and has been a both a Foundation and Chair of Governors at our Church School Langafel Primary for 12 years.

Paul became Church Warden in May 2022.

Paul lives locally in New Ash Green with his wife Elizabeth and works in the Aviation industry during the week. Paul has a passion for aviation and enjoys flying at the weekends whenever possible as well as enjoying walking, movies and photography.

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