The purpose of the Wellbeing Steering Group is to guide, oversee, and review conversations around ministerial wellbeing and the implementation of the Covenant within the Diocese of Chelmsford, aligning decisions made around wellbeing interventions and resources, and supporting the work of the Wellbeing Lead. Group members bring a wealth of experience related to wellbeing. The group reports to the Bishop’s Leadership Team and the Management Team.
Group Chair
The Right Reverend Lynne Cullens, the Bishop of Barking
The Wellbeing Steering Group is chaired by Bishop Lynne who was herself previously the Deputy CEO of a mental health charity.
Wellbeing lead
Revd Canon Andy Grffiths
Andy Griffiths is Lead Adviser for Wellbeing and Formation and Bradwell CMD Adviser. Previously, he was Director of Studies for a theological college in Hungary, was an incumbent for 12 years and served as Area Dean for 10 years. From 2017 till 2023 he was Head of Training for the Diocese of Chelmsford.
He has written on church merger, the Moravian movement, formation, incumbency and the contribution of schools to ministerial formation, is a passionate believer in community organising, and has an interest in new monastic initiatives.
Group Members
Karen Bates, LLM
Karen is an LLM serving in Canvey Island, a church that she has attended for a number of years. She trained for three years at St Mellitus, finishing one year ago this September. Karen is in full time employment as the Director of Operations at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. Wellbeing is within her remit for a wide-range of staff - as is inclusion, diversity, generating income, managing spend, people management, strategic direction and operational delivery of services.
Revd Mark Payne
Mark has been ordained for five years and is a Team Vicar in Halstead Area Team. Prior to being ordained Mark ran the charitable wing of a children and family organisation on the Isle of Man, where wellbeing was a significant focus in the work. During this time he was also a qualified Executive Coach, coaching senior leaders throughout the voluntary, public and private sector. Mark has continued coaching in Chelmsford Diocese.
Revd Canon Jane Richards
Jane is Lead Adviser for Training and Barking CMD Adviser. She trained for ordination with St Mellitus College and served her Title post in the benefice of South Woodham Ferrers, Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre.She served as the Vicar of St Andrew and Holy Cross, Basildon.
Jane has also worked as a healthcare chaplain at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford and prior to ordination worked for many years as a Public Health Specialist for the NHS and Local Authority. Jane serves as the Chair of the House of Clergy for Chelmsford Diocese and is a trustee for two voluntary sector organisations which focus on health and wellbeing.
Revd Elise Peterson
Elise has been the Vicar of the Parish of Rainham with Wennington since July 2020. Prior to that she served her curacy in Chigwell and worked as Director of Operations at All Saints' Woodford Wells. She also is a Women’s Ministry Adviser for the Barking Area.
Before moving to the UK in 2013 and embarking on a journey toward ordination in the CofE, Elise spent more than fifteen years working in tech publishing and communications and lived in California and Oregon. After more than 10 years in the UK she now considers herself an 'Ameri-Brit.'
Outside parish work, she loves walking in the English countryside, reading a good novel or mystery, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Revd Eileen Rose
Eileen is a self-supporting Priest serving at Emmanuel Church Leyton where she has been attending for nearly thirty years. She recently started volunteering part time as a Day Chaplain at Chelmsford Cathedral. Eileen is a registered Mentor for those pursuing ordination and part of the Chelmsford Diocese Women's Ministry Team.
Eileen’s professional background is in mental health and wellbeing and she is currently employed as a Psychotherapist at Kings College London University where she has worked for twenty years. Eileen supports young people and adults whose psychological and wellbeing issues are impacting their studies and/or life experiences.
Dawn Weddell
Dawn is the Head of SDF Programme Management, overseeing the Diocese’s missional growth projects. As well as being a Prince2 qualified Programme Manager, Dawn is also a CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualified HR Manager. Dawn not only brings HR and project management skills to her role but has experience continuous improvement methodology.
She also brings a wealth of knowledge and experience around volunteering as spent 11 years with Essex Police Special Constabulary, with six of those 11 years in a senior leadership role.
Steve Snooks, LLM, MBBS, MD, FRCS, LLB (Hons), Bar
Steve works as an LLM in the Epping District Team of churches, having trained at St. Mellitus and becoming licensed in 2018. He has recently retired from his work as an oncological surgeon for 30 years in East London.
Steve did return to the NHS in the Covid Pandemic to help assess patients face to face for 15 months. For the past year, he has, with help, commenced a regular painting group at St. John’s to help people with mental health issues and others with serious physical conditions.
