Our People

Staff

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.

Jim Blumire

Book Keeper
finance@arthurrankcentre.org.uk

John Carlon

Resources Manager
john.carlon@arthurrankcentre.org.uk

Sarah Hulme

Methodist Rural Mission and Ministry Officer
sarah.hulme@arthurrankcentre.org.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7467 5285

Methodist website

Trustees

Wise, experienced and supportive people with legal responsibility for guiding and overseeing our work.

Revd Les Hann

Chair

Methodist minister in Cumbria and rural officer for the Cumbrian Methodist District. He is the appointed representative for the Methodist and United Reformed Church.

George Dunn

Currently Chief Executive of the Tenant Farmers Association of England and Wales and a member of the leadership team of All Nations Christian Centre, an Elim Pentecostal Church in Reading, Berkshire.

Revd Claire McArthur

Claire is Rector at Stoke St Michael, Coventry. Prior to ordination she worked for over 20 years at the BBC and was Head of Communications and Digital at a national charity. Her expertise is in marketing, communications and everything digital.

Professor David Pink

Vice Chair 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.

Revd Dr Richard Teal

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’.

Judith James

Married with one son, Judith is involved in the family run dairy farm and static caravan site in the beautiful Eden Valley in Cumbria. She has worked within the Agricultural sector for over 30 years with management and financial planning experience. Passionate about Rural Life with its challenges and opportunities and a keen follower of most sports.

Rev Dr Ben Aldous

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. He also loves rural context having growing up in Cornwall and coming from a family of farmers. He has written on fresh expressions, ecumenism and speed and power in mission. His book The God Who Walks Slowly is published by SCM Press.

Bridget Down

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.

Revd Philip Wagstaff

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.