David has served All Saints since 2010. Being Vicar of rural Packwood and Hockley Heath from 2000 he learned to love the abiding patience of our Anglican parochial commitment to every neighbourhood. A second curacy at St James Handsworth (1996-2000) taught him that diversity is a thrill, not a threat. Ordained in St Martin’s in the Bull Ring in 1992 and 1993, his curacy there taught him that the church loves but does not own the Gospel.

His parents, a Liverpool artist and an inner-city head teacher, taught him that the world may not be fair, but it is eerily beautiful.

His wife, Jenny, has been a secondary teacher, editor and writer and is a trained prayer guide. Their daughter is a teacher and their son a carpenter. Between them, they try to teach him not to take himself too seriously and, in return, they benefit from his favourite way of procrastinating: cooking.

My name is Tariro Matsveru and I am the Assistant Curate here at All Saints Church. I grew up in a Christian family and was active in church from Sunday School to being part of the Youth Group. Coming from a country that does not yet ordain women, I never thought that I had a calling or that I would one day be a priest. It was while doing my Masters that I really started questioning God about where he wanted me. Many people had come to me and asked me why I wasn’t in ministry, but I always brushed them off because my heart was set on doing medicine. Then God started to reveal a lot of things both to me, and through other people, and I realised I could not ignore where and what he was calling me to. I went on to study Theology at Cranmer Hall, part of St John’s College in Durham. Prior to this, I worked for Ipswich Hospital and for the Diocese of Birmingham as a Mission Apprentice.

I’m a retired secondary school teacher, who trained as a Reader after leaving full time teaching in the 1990s. My subject specialism was Science, mainly Physics, so my aim is to get people to think scientifically about their faith – which can be hard work! Starting while in teaching I spent a number of years sailing, both taking young people dinghy sailing in Birmingham, and as sea staff on a sail training vessel, so I’ve sailed (and dived, but that’s another story) round much of the UK’s coastline.  I’m particularly interested in green issues, in social justice and I’m involved with Lunch Club. I also support my wife, Gill, in her role as Traidcraft Co-ordinator.

I was licensed as a Reader on 22 January 2022, having been a part of the All Saints congregation for over 30 years, nourished by the sensitive blend of thoughtful prayerfulness, and communion that characterises All Saints’ worship.

I am interested in the actions that accompany faith and so am a member of the church’s Justice, Peace and Green group, and am particularly caught up in the challenge of how we will achieve net carbon zero before 2030, as required by the Church of England.

My career has been a varied one – I’ve worked as a teacher, librarian, administrator, domestic energy assessor and café manager.  At University, I studied Theology, and it’s been great, recently, to return to structured theological study.

I am the widow of Ralph, who was a Roman Catholic, and have two adult sons.

I found a home at All Saints when my children were small – now they’re all grown up with lives and careers of their own. We felt welcomed and included and found kindred spirits on social justice and the environment, so stayed.

Since becoming a Reader I discovered a vocation as a prison chaplain which fits well with my day job in safeguarding. Prison is where I spend many of my Sundays now, but All Saints is still my spiritual home.