Church Staff

Rev. Ben Whitmore

Jo and I have been married since 1996. We have 2 young daughters Zoe and Poppy. I play golf (or should I say ‘spray balls round the countryside!’) in my spare time. I am also padre to the Army cadet force in Staffordshire and West Midlands. Despite being the most ‘unmilitary person’ in the world I carry the rank of Major. I was ordained in 1992 and this is the fourth church I have served in. Being a priest is an interesting life because you get to see people at all the various stages of life. There is ‘never a dull moment’.

In 2007 God led me to Penn (you can blame Him!). It is a great place to be and there is a lot going on which is fantastic. I lead St. Bart’s and St. Anne’s Churches. In practice I take services, do talks, visit schools, take baptisms, weddings, funerals, chair meetings…. The list is never ending! I love bringing people to faith in God. We run courses about the Christian faith and it is a great privilege to watch people discover faith for themselves. The future for our Church is exciting, and I look forward to seeing it grow both in faith and size.

Rev. Matt Hird – Curate

I have been married for 4 years to Jess, who loves all forms of art and crafts. I really enjoy being outdoors and try to go walking when I get the chance. I am also a big lover of music, both listening to it and making it. So, in my spare time, I can often be found playing guitar or piano. For me, though, it’s hard to beat an evening with good food, good wine, and good friends (not necessarily in that order!).

Having read maths at university I had originally been hoping to train as an accountant. At the end of my degree, though, I began to realise that God may have other plans for me. After encouragement from family, friends, and even strangers, I spent a couple of years working for a church as “Parish Assistant” to explore what those plans might be. I was subsequently accepted to train for ordination, and went to St John’s theological college in Nottingham for 3 years.

In June 2009 I was ordained and began as Curate here in Penn. This is “part two” of my training, which will include taking services, doing talks, taking baptisms, weddings and funerals, pastoral visiting, running courses, and much more besides. It is an amazing privilege to spend time with so many different people in all sorts of contexts. I am really excited about walking alongside people on their journey of faith, whether that’s helping people discover God in the first place, or encouraging them to grow in their faith.

Reader Charles Ashbrook

Reader Michael Hibbs

I am married to Helen who is a GP. We have 2 children, Charlotte and James. I like to garden and enjoy watching Cricket and rugby.

I am a partner in one of Birmingham’s largest law firms as well as board member of the IKON gallery, and Member and chairperson of various committees.

During my education at Law College I was involved in a Christian drama group. We preformed at services across the denominations and on occasion were asked to take the whole service and me to preach. In my home church in Dorridge I was asking what God wanted me to do. Clergy suggested I train as a lay reader; I did so doubting if it was what God wanted but soon came to realise it was exactly what God wanted. I was admitted and licensed in Birmingham cathedral in 1983 and became a reader for 5 years at St James Fletchamstead Coventry before moving to Penn. Rev Rod Biddle curate of St Bart’s spotted Helen and I the second week we attended and I was rapidly pressed into service!

Whilst not always easy I have enjoyed everything I have been asked to do as a reader. I lead services, preach and help administer the sacraments at communion. I pray that I will be hear God's voice clearly, speak his word, as he would have me do and obey what he wants me to do.

The work God is doing in St Anne’s at present is especially exciting for me and all those involved.

Reader Brian Hopson

Church Warden Margaret Mottram

Church Warden Geoff Gooding

The Director of Music

Joe Cooper was born in Wolverhampton where he attended St Peter’s Collegiate Choir and obtained the highest awards as a boy chorister and went on to be a lay clerk. He is now a deputy lay clerk at Lichfield Cathedral and currently studying Music at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Joe is well known in the area as a conductor and composer and is much in demand for his abilities across the city.

Val Plant

Val Plant - Youth and Children's Worker

I am married to David who is a landscape gardener. We have 3 daughters who are grown up and try to organise us – very scary! I hate housework but love walking, cycling and playing my guitar. I realise that God has been preparing me over many years, as a teacher and as a volunteer in my previous church, for this post at St Bart’s.
I’m involved and promote anything to do with youth and children. I go into the five schools in the parish to do assemblies and clubs, help with Junior Church, All Age worship at St Anne’s and Parade services making them more accessible to young people and families, I run the youth club and go along to Local Neighborhood partnership meetings to wave the flag for St Bart’s. I love school assemblies and putting on “The Bash!” the new messy church event. It is so great to see children and parents who wouldn’t normally come to church praising God – you can feel Him smiling!!
I hope that children and young people will come to know that God loves them very much, that Jesus is always their friend and that St Bart’s is a good place to be.

Office secretary Cathy Elwell

Junior Church Richard Vernon

Does God Exist

☐ YES

☐ NO

☐ PROBABLY