Meet Our Team
Committed to Instilling Faith into our Community
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The Reverend Steve McKay
Rector - Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester
Joint Moderator - Churches Together Around Tadley
Chaplain to the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane
(Day off Tuesday)
Steve is Rector for our Benefice including St Paul's and St Luke's. He is also currently Chaplain to the Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane and Joint Moderator of Churches Together Around Tadley.
He is married to Sarah, who works in a local primary school and they have two older children. He has a love of music and has worked alongside some well known bands both in production and performance. He is a fan of puns and 'Dad Jokes' much to his children's embarrassment.
Steve is passionate about equipping others to live their call and the way we demonstrate love in our community.
He is looking forward to this new season of ministry here in Tadley, Pamber Heath and Silchester as we seek to love and bless our communities.
Rev. Cathy Pynn
Assistant Priest - Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester
Cathy, is married to John, a scientist, organist and DIY enthusiast and enjoys family life with 3 children and a grandson.
After retiring as Chaplain to Bradfield College in 2005, she spent 7 years as resident priest in Kintbury. In 2013 she and John retired to Pamber Heath where she is part of the clergy team particularly working in Pamber Heath.
Her passion is helping people to realise that God loves them and her hobbies are not-retiring, Sudoku, reading, singing, rediscovering Bridge and learning German.
The Reverend Karen West
Associate Minister - Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester
(Days off Thursday / Friday / Saturday)
Karen was ordained as a deacon in 2021 and priest in 2022, alongside Steve. From 2009, Karen was the Archbishops' Adviser on Bishops' Ministry, based at Lambeth Palace in support of the learning and development of Bishops in the Church of England.
She is as excited as Steve about working together with the ministry team and lay colleagues to build God's Kingdom in the Benefice. In addition to her parish responsibilities, Karen is passionate about her role as a Trustee and Board member of Church Army and is a member of the chaplaincy team at St Michael's Hospice.
Karen is looking forward to moving into the vicarage in Silchester and becoming a member of the village community, along with Mum, Margaret and 3 year old cocker spaniel, Monty.
Rev. Chris Knight
Assistant Curate - Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester
(Day off Friday)
Chris is very excited to be joining the Benefice of Tadley with Pamber Heath and Silchester as our new Curate following his ordination as a Deacon on 2nd July at Winchester Cathedral.
He is married to Esther and have two children. Chris grew up in south London before going to Loughborough University to study Mechanical Engineering. After graduating, he worked at Rolls-Royce in Derby for eight years, developing Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for producing greener electricity and then testing large civil aeroplane engines.
Chris' interests include music, mostly in the English choral tradition, but with more recent ventures into worship songs via the college worship band, so I’m looking forward to the variety of services across the benefice.
He has a strong liturgical and sacramental expression, with Ecological, Inclusive Church and generous hospitality being particularly important to him.
What has excited and attracted him to the benefice is the amazing diversity of work we are already involved with, including wider networks of ecumenical partners through Churches Together Around Tadley (CTAT), the Deanery and Diocese. As a former Scout and Air Cadet, he is looking forward to working with these and other youth organisations, including the local schools.
Fresh expressions of Church appeal to his creative side, allowing us to innovate, experiment and stretch ourselves in a range of church traditions. These strengthen us as existing disciples - whilst also attracting, welcoming and encouraging those of all ages who are yet to become involved.
Simon Day LLM
Licensed Lay Minister
After 4 long years of training through the pandemic, Simon was licensed, at Winchester Cathedral by Bishop David, to the Office of Licensed Lay Minister ("LLM"). LLMs have a leadership role serving alongside our clergy to support people in faith and enable mission. Simon has also been awarded the Diploma of Higher Education in Theology, Ministry and Mission from Durham University which he completed as part of his training and studies.
Simon will continue to support Steve and the team, both here at St Paul's and at St Mary's North Tadley, in leading services and delivering sermons, as well as developing his mission outside the church walls in the workplace. He is a member of his workplace Christian Network.
Simon is married to Dawn and they have two teenage daughters, two dogs and a cat. Simon can often be found at weekends escaping to Pamber Forest with Gracie (the Golden Retriever) and Leia (the Working Cocker Spaniel) for some quiet reflection time!
Virge Routledge
Benefice Administrator
We are delighted to let you know that following interviews Virge Routledge has been appointed as our new Benefice Administrator.
The role has been discussed for many years and will free up time for clergy to focus on mission rather than administration.
Virge comes to us with a wealth of experience in many areas. She currently worships at St. Michael’s in Basingstoke and as well as being a past Church Warden has led in many areas of church life.
Virge will be with us for 15 hours a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday supporting all three of our parishes.
Please don’t use Virge as an excuse to ‘down tools.’ Many of you already contribute in significant and valuable ways to our parishes. While we hope that Virge will pick up many aspects that help our churches run, 15 hours is not a lot of time to do this!
To ensure Virge is working in areas that will grow our parishes and is not overloaded any tasks for Virge will initially be passed via Steve who will be monitoring her workload.
This new appointment will take some adjustment for all of us, but we are excited by God’s provision for us and give thanks that Virge is willing to step forwards and help us.
