Clergy
The Clergy Team
The Revd John Pearson-Hicks, Priest-in-Charge
The Revd Ruwani Gunawardene, Assistant Priest
The Revd Dr Linda Ulrich, Assistant Curate
The Revd John Pearson-Hicks was licensed as Priest in Charge on 28th October 2015, having previously been commissioned by the Bishop of London on St Barnabas Day 2015 as Chaplain. He became our stipendiary priest on 1st September 2017.
Fr John was ordained deacon in 2005 and priest in 2006. He served his curacy at The Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair as a non-stipendiary minister under Fr Simon Hobbs and then Fr Mark Oakley. From there he moved to St Stephen with St John, Westminster where he served from 2009-2015 under the Revd Philip Welsh and then the Revd Graham Buckle.
Prior to becoming a stipendiary (paid) minister Fr John was a primary school teacher. He started his teaching career at St Matthew's CE Primary School, Old Pye Street. He then spent some time in Hackney as a Deputy Headteacher and then in 1999 became the Headteacher of St Barnabas CE Primary School (next door to church!). From there he went on to spend ten very happy years as the Headteacher of Burdett-Coutts and Townshend Foundation CE Primary School (behind St Stephen's Rochester Row). At the end of 2013 he took on an interim headship in Islington until he became stipendiary (80% of the week) at St Barnabas. Fr John has also worked as a School Data Protection Officer for Grow Education Ltd, the trading arm of the London Diocesan Board for Schools which John has spent over 35 years working in.
John grew up in Cornwall (St Ives), attended Truro School (a Methodist Boarding School) and then went to college at Crewe and Alsager to study art. From here he completed his PGCE at King Alfred's, Winchester. Along the way he has also picked up a Diploma in Maths Education, a Masters degree in Theology and Education from Kings College London and a Diploma in Theology prior to ordination (NTMTC).
Fr John loves photography, art, gardening, cooking and is an avid reader of crime novels.
Contact Details:
St Barnabas Church
St Barnabas Street
London SW1W 8PF
Church Office Number: 020 3158 1339
[email protected]
07540 062413
[email protected]
The Revd Ruwani Gunawardene was ordained deacon in 2022 and priest in 2024. She served the first three years of curacy at St James the Less. The Bishop of London licensed Revd Ruwani to the parish on 30 June 2025. Revd Ruwani has a particular interest in intercultural worship and has just completed a Masters degree. Revd Ruwani was born in Sri Lanka and has lived in North London for many years. She works full-time for Diocese of London in the Episcopal Area of Willesden as an Administrator . Prior to that she worked for the London School of Theology.
The Revd Dr Linda Ulrich was ordained deacon on Saturday 27 September 2025 by the Bishop of London. Linda studied at St Mellitus College on the Caleb Stream. Linda has spent a long career in education, teaching at various levels. Her doctorate is in Geography, and she is has specialist teacher of English to adults.
The Revd Theodora Jejey Assistant Curate - 17 June 2022 - 27 January 2026
Laura Connies-Laing, Pastoral Assistant - 2024-25 (Laura is now a Chaplaincy Assistant at Kings College London)
Recent Past Clergy include:
2022-2026 Theodora Jejey
2010-2015 David Warwick Cherry
2004-2010 Alasdair Charles Coles
1997-2002 William Sievwright Scott
1975-1997 Oystein Johan Holt
The Revd John Pearson-Hicks, Priest-in-Charge
The Revd Ruwani Gunawardene, Assistant Priest
The Revd Dr Linda Ulrich, Assistant Curate
The Revd John Pearson-Hicks was licensed as Priest in Charge on 28th October 2015, having previously been commissioned by the Bishop of London on St Barnabas Day 2015 as Chaplain. He became our stipendiary priest on 1st September 2017.
Fr John was ordained deacon in 2005 and priest in 2006. He served his curacy at The Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair as a non-stipendiary minister under Fr Simon Hobbs and then Fr Mark Oakley. From there he moved to St Stephen with St John, Westminster where he served from 2009-2015 under the Revd Philip Welsh and then the Revd Graham Buckle.
Prior to becoming a stipendiary (paid) minister Fr John was a primary school teacher. He started his teaching career at St Matthew's CE Primary School, Old Pye Street. He then spent some time in Hackney as a Deputy Headteacher and then in 1999 became the Headteacher of St Barnabas CE Primary School (next door to church!). From there he went on to spend ten very happy years as the Headteacher of Burdett-Coutts and Townshend Foundation CE Primary School (behind St Stephen's Rochester Row). At the end of 2013 he took on an interim headship in Islington until he became stipendiary (80% of the week) at St Barnabas. Fr John has also worked as a School Data Protection Officer for Grow Education Ltd, the trading arm of the London Diocesan Board for Schools which John has spent over 35 years working in.
John grew up in Cornwall (St Ives), attended Truro School (a Methodist Boarding School) and then went to college at Crewe and Alsager to study art. From here he completed his PGCE at King Alfred's, Winchester. Along the way he has also picked up a Diploma in Maths Education, a Masters degree in Theology and Education from Kings College London and a Diploma in Theology prior to ordination (NTMTC).
Fr John loves photography, art, gardening, cooking and is an avid reader of crime novels.
Contact Details:
St Barnabas Church
St Barnabas Street
London SW1W 8PF
Church Office Number: 020 3158 1339
[email protected]
07540 062413
[email protected]
The Revd Ruwani Gunawardene was ordained deacon in 2022 and priest in 2024. She served the first three years of curacy at St James the Less. The Bishop of London licensed Revd Ruwani to the parish on 30 June 2025. Revd Ruwani has a particular interest in intercultural worship and has just completed a Masters degree. Revd Ruwani was born in Sri Lanka and has lived in North London for many years. She works full-time for Diocese of London in the Episcopal Area of Willesden as an Administrator . Prior to that she worked for the London School of Theology.
The Revd Dr Linda Ulrich was ordained deacon on Saturday 27 September 2025 by the Bishop of London. Linda studied at St Mellitus College on the Caleb Stream. Linda has spent a long career in education, teaching at various levels. Her doctorate is in Geography, and she is has specialist teacher of English to adults.
The Revd Theodora Jejey Assistant Curate - 17 June 2022 - 27 January 2026
Laura Connies-Laing, Pastoral Assistant - 2024-25 (Laura is now a Chaplaincy Assistant at Kings College London)
Recent Past Clergy include:
2022-2026 Theodora Jejey
2010-2015 David Warwick Cherry
2004-2010 Alasdair Charles Coles
1997-2002 William Sievwright Scott
1975-1997 Oystein Johan Holt
ChurchWardens
|
S Leamy
Church Warden |
D McDowell
Church Warden |
Music |
AdministratION |
D. Aprahamian Liddle
Director of Music and Organist David has been part of St Barnabas Church community for many years. He celebrated his 40th Anniversary on 1st November 2025. Fr John writes, 'We are blessed by David's long commitment, energy and excellent musicianship which enhances our worship. He is a true example of 'service and encouragement' and we thank him'. Mr David Aprahamian Liddle, Director of Music / Organist since 1985 It is with great sadness that we announce that David, a faithful servant of Christ and a gifted musician who served this parish for over four decades, died peacefully at home on Saturday 28 March 2026. May he rest in peace +And rise in glory. Amen. Funeral details will follow in due course. Passing through Pimlico a new book has been published on Amazon Kindle by Mr David Aprahamian Liddle After 20 years of research David completed his book on the previous organists of St Barnabas. It was published Since this is basically a series of mini-biographies, David recommends that you don’t read more than one chapter at a time, then put the book aside for another chapter another day or week. There is a lot of social history with links to many other churches and cathedrals, plus some very personal material. Every penny raised by sales of this book will go to the St Barnabas Organ Restoration Fund. To build a new pipe organ we are seeking to raise in the region of one million. |
D. Pearson-Hicks
Daren has been providing Administration Services to the parish since Easter 2019 and usually works in church on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings. His is contactable by email/phone at other times. Church Office Number: 020 3158 1339 church email: [email protected] |