Meet our lovely team who are on hand to help with any queries you might have…
For general enquiries, please email info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk.
Chief Executive Officer
matt.jeffrey@arthurrankcentre.org.uk
02476 853 060
Methodist Rural Mission and Ministry Officer
info@arthurrankcentre.org.uk
020 7467 5285
Admin & Finance Team
trisha.pickvance@arthurrankcentre.org.uk
02476 853 060
Wise, experienced and supportive people with legal responsibility for guiding and overseeing our work.
Emeritus Professor of Crop Improvement, Harper Adams University. Member of the Food Ethics Council and Science Advisory Committee of LEAF and Scientific Advisor to the AHDB Field Vegetable panel. He worships at St Michael’s, Bishops Itchington in South Warwickshire.
A Methodist Minister for 40 years, Richard served mostly in rural appointments. He was President of the Methodist Conference 2020-2021. He is son of a farmer, whose two sons are also farmers. He helped to write and produce ‘A Discipling Presence’.
+Richard was born in in London and joined the Church at 17. He studied agriculture and forestry at Christ Church, Oxford and completed a Master’s degree in soil and water engineering at Cranfield. He then worked as an agronomist, advising Farmers. +Richard trained for the priesthood at Trinity College, Bristol and following several appointments in Sussex, was installed as Bishop of Hereford in March 2020. He is presently Lead Rural Bishop as well as Clerk of the Closet.
Nick studied agriculture and forestry at Oxford. After 6 years in research he became Food Policy & Research Adviser, and later a Senior Technical Adviser, for the NFU. Ordained in 1995, he ran the Rural Stress Information Network (RSIN), based at the Arthur Rank Centre, for which he was awarded the OBE and made a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society. He has been Agricultural Chaplain in Hereford Diocese since 1998, sometimes in combination with other posts including: Diocesan Environment Officer, Director of the Bulmer Foundation, and Project Co-ordinator with South Shropshire Climate Action. He is Secretary of the Agricultural Chaplains Association.
Principal officer for Mission and Evangelism at Churches Together in England, the national ecumenical instrument. Previously an Anglican Priest in Cape Town (2013-2019), Durban (2010-2013) and a church planter in Cambodia (2004-2010). Ben is a missiologist and passionate about intercultural church and is a Research Fellow for Queens, and a visiting scholar for Sarum College. He also loves rural context having grown up in Cornwall and coming from a family of farmers. He has written on fresh expressions, ecumenism and speed and power in mission. His books The God Who Walks Slowly and ‘Lived’ Mission in 21st Century Britain: Ecumenical and Postcolonial Perspectives are both published by SCM Press.
Regional Learning Development Officer for the Methodist Church for the South West, Farmer’s Wife and Mummy to four creative and energetic children. Has a passion for the countryside having been raised on a farm on the edge of Dartmoor, living a life outdoors. Bridget’s passion for life is journeying with individuals and communities, which she actively lives out as a Local Preacher, Parish Councillor, Community Volunteer, Broadcast Contributor and Writer.
Methodist minister currently Superintendent of the Hastings, Bexhill and Rye Circuit. Philip has been stationed in rural circuits for the majority of his ministry since 1986. Currently Rural Officer for the South East District of the Methodist Church having previously been the Rural Officer for Plymouth and Exeter District. Senior Tutor on the Certificate in Rural and Environmental Studies (CRES) Course.
Stuart is a Methodist Minister and has served as the President of the Methodist Conference. He has Chaired the Countryside Agency, the Commission for Rural Communities and served as the Rural Advocate to the Prime Minister. He has also chaired Hanover and Anchor Hanover Housing Association and the Directors of the Wesley Hotel in London. Presently working in the charity sector including chair of the Trustees of the the Ammerdown Centre in Somerset.
