Ministry is a shared venture
The church is served by people bringing their different gifts to bear - that might be the gift of administration, of hospitality, of teaching, of encouragement, and much, much more. Some people feel called to serve the church in a leadership role either as a lay person or as an ordained member of the clergy.
Your clergy
Rev'd Lydia Cook - Team Rector
I am a cradle Anglican and brought up in a church in Sheffield. I moved to Oxford for my degree and theological training and was ordained priest in 1997 in Peterborough Cathedral. I have gradually slid west after ministry in the Diocese of Oxford, spending 15 years in the Diocese of Salisbury.
Whilst working part time for the church for a while, my family and I ran a 32 acre smallholding living “the good life”. I returned to full time ministry in 2015 and came to the Otter Vale Mission Community in 2021.
I am married to Simon and we have 2 grown-up sons.
Rev'd Carys Baker - Assistant Curate
I grew up as part of the Sunday School of an historic Anglican church in Warwickshire and became a Christian at the age of six.
Having considered a vocation to the religious life in my late teens, I went on to careers in the NHS and psychotherapy before realising that I could no longer ignore God’s call to ordained ministry.
I completed the academic part of my training at Trinity College, Bristol, while serving first at Exeter Cathedral and then here in the Otter Vale Mission Community. I was ordained in June 2024 at Exeter Cathedral.
I enjoy attempting to play the harp and spending time with my five teenage children and two dogs.
Your administrator
Mrs Sue Jeacock
Hi, I’m Sue. I’ve been parish administrator at Ottery since 2012.
I grew up in Bristol and lived and worked in London before moving to Feniton in 2003. I have a geography degree and have worked as a journalist and a registered childminder. I have four children (Emily, Dan, Tom and Matt), a cat and a husband, Ian.
My interests include walking, bird-watching, music and watching my sons play cricket. My guilty pleasure is watching Eastenders! I help at St Mary’s baby and toddler group Tots’ Time, sing in the choir and am a member of the Mission Community Eco Group.
I am also PCC Secretary and a member of the Eco Group and Fabric Working Groups.
Your churchwardens
Ms Jaclynn Baker
Mr Howard Clayton
PCC members
As well as the clergy and churchwardens above, the following are on the PCC. Please contact members of the PCC through the Administrator.
- Mr John Maybery – Treasurer; Deanery Synod rep; Lay pastoral assistant; Fabric Working Group; Eco group; Wiggaton PCC representative
- Mrs Mell Kaye – Assistant Warden; Parish Safeguarding representative; Under One Roof Focus Group
- Mrs Kay Duffy – DBS checker, Under One Roof Steering Committee, Standing Committee member
- Mrs Elizabeth Everett – Deanery Synod rep; Lay pastoral assistant; Eco Group; Under One Roof Focus Group
- Mrs Val Phillips – Eco group; Alfington PCC representative
- Mrs Sue Clayton
- Ms Anitra Lockwood
- Mr Peter Hudson
- Mrs Val McIntosh – Deputy Warden