Our Ministry Team
Vicar at St. Mary's
We are delighted to announce that the Rev’d Joe Smith has now joined us as Vicar of the Parish of Alsager with Hassall Green! Joe previously served as a Priest at St John the Baptist, Cardiff, and Chaplain to Cardiff University.
Joe’s Collation and Induction service was a wonderful occasion led by the Bishop of Chester and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield and took place at St Mary’s on Monday 20th July 2026 at 7pm. The congregations of St Mary’s and St Philip’s are very pleased to welcome Joe and his family to Alsager.
Joe’s contact details will be added here soon. In the meantime, please use our Contact Us page to identify the best person to speak to about any enquiries you may have, or any help you may need, from St. Mary’s or St. Philip’s.
Details of the other members of our Ministry Team are set out below.
Rev Graham Joyce, Associate Priest of the Parish
I taught Maths in a Surrey school until 1987 when I trained in Bristol for Ordination. I was a curate in Heald Green then served as Rector at Church Lawton for 21 years, retiring in 2014. My passion is for the church to keep on growing more and more like Jesus – loving, compassionate, merciful, and helping those around us. It is important to me to be part of a church that welcomes and includes everyone as part of the church family.
I am very pleased to be a part of the team at the Church of St Mary Magdalene.
Email : revglj@gmail.com
Call : 01270 883621 / 07944 256156
Rev John Gleaves, Associate Priest of the Parish
After retiring as vicar of Alvanley and Manley, I have returned to my position as curate at St Mary’s, where I started off. I regard my ministry as supporting the other clergy, members of the congregation, and the wider community of the Church.
Email : ministry@stmarysalsager.org
Call : 01270 878169 or 07776 242132
Licenced Readers
Anne Joyce, Licenced Reader
I have been a Christian since I was 21 when I realised that God loved me so much he sent Jesus to be my Saviour. I am married to a retired vicar and although I am a mother and mother-in-law to vicars, we are quite a down to earth family. I was licenced as a Reader in the Church of England in October 2023 and love my role which means I can preach on a Sunday and carry out my ‘day job’ as a speech and language therapist on Monday. I believe my call is to be a voice for those who don’t feel able to be heard, and to share the message that we are all equal and equally loved.
Call : 07964 466503
Email : ministry@stmarysalsager.org
Gill Marren, Licenced Reader
I am a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and I have been nursing for more than 50years and still work one day a week at a GP surgery. I have been a Christian since my youngest child was baptised forty years ago, when God made himself known to me, from that moment I have tried to live my life for Jesus. Following a convoluted journey to ministry I find myself called to St Mary’s where the congregation and ministry team have made me very welcome, and it is now my faith home. I was licensed as Lay Reader at Chester Cathedral in October 2024. I love the role of Reader as it gives me the opportunity to serve God and the people of St Mary’s and Alsager to share the scriptures and Gods message of love.
Call : 07831520079
Email : ministry@stmarysalsager.org