Who's who? | St Johns, Menston

WHO ARE WE?

Vicar

Hello! I am Jo,
Vicar of St John’s.

It’s a real privilege to be part of this church community, my family and I feel well blessed to be in Menston. As a family, we enjoy being outdoors, sports (including a house divided between Newcastle and Leeds United), time with family and friends, travel, film and food.

Being Vicar means I lead St John’s with the PCC (a team of lovely people from church). You’ll see me leading services and preaching, as well as out and about in the village. It would be so good to meet you. If you are wondering about coming along to a service sometime – please do! We will be so pleased to see you!

Revd Jo Glenwright

Coming soon...

Julie West

Warden

Dominic Hall

Warden

I am Dominic, one of the two churchwardens at St John’s.

I was born in Kent – the garden of England, no less and moved to Yorkshire some thirty-five years ago.

I work as a teacher in the prison at Leeds where I teach foreign nationals to improve their

English communication skills.

For when I am not at work or attending to my duties at church I like to read and go to the cinema.

I contribute a regular column to the parish magazine and
bi-annually also provide a selection of books that others might like to read.

For my sins, I am an avid fan of the Eurovision Song Contest and a follower of the (mis)fortunes of West Ham United.

Amy

Administrator

I love being part of St John's, where everyone is so welcoming and friendly. In my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors, reading, spending time with friends, watching live sports and binge-watching Netflix!

Associate Priest

Hello my name is Andrew Howorth, and I am proud to say that I am the associate vicar at St John’s. Being an associate means that I assist Jo with some of the Sunday Services and get involved in other aspects of the Church's life when I can.

Having retired from my main role as the Anglican Chaplain at Bradford University at Easter 2025, I have begun a new way of life with a bit more of a pick and choose element! Having said that it is a great privilege to work as SSM Priest here at St. Johns as my primary role.

Within the Diocese I am the LGBTQIA+ Chaplain for the whole of the Leeds Diocese, where my role is to support clergy, congregations and those exploring their vocation, around the issues of sexual orientation and identity. Here at St Johns, we actively support the work of Open Table Bradford and are exploring what it would mean for us to be formally part of “Inclusive Church”.

As relative newcomers David and I and moved into Menston in May 2019, I was licensed to assist back in February 2018, but obviously living in the Village has meant it is so much easier to join in and become regular members of the local community.

In my spare time I am involved in many aspects of amateur theatre, and love cooking, gardening and walking in the lovely surrounding countryside. We love living here in Menston.

Rev Andrew Howorth

Wendy Thornhill

Licensed Lay Minister

I was first licensed as a Lay Reader in 1992 in Lichfield Cathedral and served in Lichfield diocese for a number of years, sometimes part-time whilst working as a teacher and sometimes full-time. In 2005 I moved to Essex and in a number of churches in Leigh-in-Sea. Being a country girl at heart I was delighted to be able to move to Menston in 2020 to be near to one of my children. I feel that my vocation in the Church is built on pastoral ministry and look forward working to helping to build up the community at St John’s.