Clergy

The clergy are both the spiritual and organisational leaders of the church. It is the clergy’s role to guide you through life along a path the meets with the teaching of Jesus. At key times in your life, they will help you reconfirm your faith in God in a more personal way by assisting you perform the rituals of baptism, confirmation, and marriage, amongst others.

In the Parish of Aston and Nechells, our four clergy service the needs of parishioners from all three churches. They are very happy to speak to you individually between and after Sunday services, or you can contact any of them via their e-mails given below.

VICAR: Revd Dr Andy Jolley

Andy was born in Nottingham and raised within a non-conformist family before falling amongst Anglicans. Before ordination, Andy qualified as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, working in the motor industry for Ford and then as a management consultant for Coopers & Lybrand. He trained for ordination at St John’s Nottingham and served a curacy in Sparkhill, Birmingham before becoming vicar of Aston Parish Church in September 2002. In 2005 he was also given responsibility for St James’ and St Matthew’s Churches. Andy enjoys training leaders and helping people develop the gifts that God has given them. He is especially interested in helping people relate their Christian faith to their everyday work. Andy is married to Ricky, an inner city GP, and they have two lively children: Beth and Matty. He enjoys good food, wine, swimming, skiing and watching football (even at Villa Park!). He also enjoys spending time with his family (who wrote this with him!)

Email Andy
Tel: 0121 327 5856 (home)

ASSOCIATE VICAR: Revd Dr Jenny Arnold

Jenny was born in Bournemouth in 1954. The daughter of two doctors, Jenny had her first introduction to Christianity when she was invited to Sunday School by a friend as a child, later making a firmer commitment as a teenager. Following her parents into medicine, she also became a doctor and worked as a Consultant in hospitals in Liverpool and Wigan. In 1993, when her husband (Andy – a surgeon) secured a position in Birmingham, Jenny moved here with him. She studied Theology at St. John’s in Nottingham and trained for ordination at Queens College in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Jenny was ordained in September 2002 and worked as Curate at Aston Parish Church before becoming Associate Vicar for the Parish of Aston and Nechells.

Email Jenny
Tel: 0121 359 6965 (home)

CURATE: Revd Fiona Robertson

Fiona joined the three churches as curate in July 2006. Before being ordained she worked as a maths and science teacher in Malawi, a teacher’s aide in Niger and in two churches in the UK. Fiona moved to Aston after training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

She never quite knows how to answer the question ‘where are you from?’ as she spent her childhood in Sierra Leone, London, Kenya, Bedfordshire and Birmingham. She now enjoys making Aston her home, particularly because of the mix of cultures and backgrounds here. Fiona grew up knowing God and praying and as time went on, her understanding and faith developed.

Fiona enjoys working creatively with others to help people grow in their faith and meet with God.

In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, knitting, sewing, mountain walking, quiet evenings with friends and cooking.

Email Fiona
Tel: 0121 326 7390 (home)

CURATE: Revd Beverly Watson

Beverly was ordained in London in the summer of 2008 and then joined the team in November 2008 when she moved with her family to Birmingham. Before ordination Beverly was on the staff of St Stephen’s Church in Twickenham, and prior to that spent many years teaching music – both French horn and piano. Beverly was born in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, and brought up in a loving and committed Christian family. She studied theology in Cambridge as an undergraduate, and much later trained for ordination at STETS in Salisbury. Beverly is married to Andrew, who is also ordained, and they have four children – Hannah, Sam, Joseph and Lydia.

Email Beverly
Tel: 07547 416721 (mobile)