Ministry Team

David Bagnall – Rector

David is the Rector and leads the church. A Cotswold lad by birth, David was Senior Choral Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, where he read English Literature for his undergraduate degree, and Development Studies for his M.Phil. Prior to ordination, David was an English teacher before working as a youth minister for North Lambeth Parish in South London. Having trained at Westcott House, David served his curacy at Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge. Prior to joining St John’s, he was Assistant Chaplain at Emmanuel College where he also completed a PhD researching the collision of discourses within the Anglican Communion. David is married to Katharine and has two children, Iona and Robbie. They live in the New Town and are looked after by their dog, Bessie. You can contact David by email at davidb@stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk.

Kenneth Boyd – Team Priest

Kenneth Boyd has been a non-stipendiary member of the St John’s ministry team since 1987, when as a Minister of the Church of Scotland he received permission to officiate from the Bishop of Edinburgh. Born and brought up in Easter Ross and educated there and at Edinburgh University, he worked after graduation for the Student Christian Movement, where he met his wife Pat, and after ordination as a University Chaplain. He is Professor Emeritus of Medical Ethics of Edinburgh University College of Medicine.

Eileen Thompson – Team Priest

Eileen joined St John’s in the early 1990s when studying practical theology at New College. Much of her career has been spent working with the church overseas, as linguistics advisor for the United Bible Societies and as Communication Secretary/Director for Council for World Mission. This has taken her to 21 countries and over 30 denominations. Although a cradle Anglican, it seemed a natural progression to be ordained in the united churches of South Asia. She was made deacon in the Church of Bangladesh and presbyter in the Church of South India. On returning to the UK, it was a wrench to be attached to a single denomination and she was sent to Livingston Ecumenical Parish. There she was a CofS, Methodist, and URC minister as well as an episcopal priest. In 2013 she returned to St John’s, which had been her spiritual support whilst overseas. She loves being immersed in SEC liturgy and life, though she still works ecumenically. Eileen still enjoys travelling, is a keen photographer, reads voraciously, and enjoys the cultural feast Edinburgh has to offer.

Clephane Hume – Team Priest

Clephane has been at St John’s most of her life! She was an Occupational Therapist in the field of mental health, clinically, and then as a lecturer at Queen Margaret University. She was ordained deacon in 1992 and priest in 1994. The two professions combine happily in her pastoral work. After retiring from secular work she found a committee position which enabled her to travel extensively, thus combining her interest in international development with a love of travel and photography.

Tim Tunley – Team Priest

Tim left theological college in 2002. He was ordained and work as a curate in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough. He went on to be Vicar of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, then went to be team Vicar of Seacroft in Leeds.  Tim works as chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers Scotland and has visited many of the ports in Scotland. He has preached at many of the Scottish Episcopal churches up and down the country.

Michael Fuller – Team Priest

Jolyon Mitchell – Team Priest

Vestry and its Committees

Rector: The Rev Dr David Bagnall

Chair: Jean Grier  Treasurer: Peter Silver  Secretary: Alistair Dinnie

Lay Representative to Edinburgh Diocesan Synod: Eden Anderson

Alternative Lay Representative to Diocesan Synod: Colin Anderson

The following members of St John’s: Morag Fairhurst, Rachael Murphy, Jill Taleyarkhan, Sandy Frost

Fabric Committee: convened by Alan Martin  Finance Committee: convened by Peter Silver

Personnel Committee: convened by Jean Grier

CDEL (Cornerstone Developments Edinburgh Ltd): convened by the Rector

You can contact the vestry via email here.