Rev John Harding
Curate-in-charge
John was appointed as Curate-in-charge at St John’s 28 June 2026. John is responsible for the day to day running and leadership of the church, with the oversight of Rev Dr Tom Woolford as our Priest-in-charge based at All Saints New Longton. This is John’s first ministry appointment within the Church of England, but not his first church leadership role, having led a non denominational evangelical church in Liverpool for the past decade.
John is married to Kirsten, who has also started a new role as Head of RE at St Wilfrid’s Blackburn. They have two grown up sons, Soren and Reuben, and two retired greyhounds, The Duke and Otis.
John and Kirsten are loving Leyland and their new community at St John’s. John’s passions include mountain walking, football (playing and supporting LFC), and cooking. Feel free to contact John to explore connecting with St John’s church.
Check out John’s book ‘Reflex’
https://www.amazon.co.uk/
Rev Dr Tom Woolford’s email: vicar@
- email John: Revjohnharding@gmail.com
Barbara Wilson
PTO Minister
I am enjoying my retirement from full time employment which allows me to get stuck in to things at St John’s. I have been a member of the church for over 40 years. When not preparing for other church responsibilities I enjoy going to the gym, singing and spending time with my four grandchildren.
Sue Champness
Licensed Lay Minister
Sue and her husband Dave have been part of the church family at St John’s since moving to Leyland in 1997, shortly before Sue completed her training as a Church of England Lay Reader (now referred to as Licensed Lay Ministers or LLMs). Their two children grew up in Leyland and are now both in their early twenties.
After teaching Science at St Wilfrid’s High School in Blackburn for ten years, Sue left paid employment when her children were young and has since worked as a full-time volunteer in a wide variety of church roles. She enjoys working with children and young people (especially teenagers!!), teaching people of any age about the Bible, supporting others who are exploring or exercising Christian ministry, and longs to see people of all backgrounds coming to know Jesus and discovering how amazing life with him can be.
David Gaskell
PTO Minister
David is a retired vicar who assists with the ministry at St John’s.
Stephen Fletcher
PTO Minister
Stephen is a retired vicar who assists with the ministry at St John’s. He and his wife, Anne, a former Probation Officer, retired to Leyland in 2020 after serving in parishes in Didsbury, Kersal Moor & Horwich. They enjoy spending time with their 4 grandchildren as well as being part of the St. John’s family here. They also help the team leading our midweek Wednesday Hub, which provides a place for fun, friendship & faith in a relaxed setting during term-time. Despite failing his history O Level at school, in retirement Stephen has been amazed to discover that he really enjoys exploring local history and he helped organise an exhibition here in 2026. Otherwise, he can be found happily growing tomatoes and cucumbersin his backyard, and pottering around in his garage ‘man-cave’!
PCC (Parochial Church Council)
Our Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the main decision-making body of the parish. It consists of clergy, churchwardens and others elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
To contact the PCC please email: pccleylandstjohns@gmail.com
Our Churchwardens: Dave Champness and Audrey Waring can be contacted on: churchwardenleylandstjohns@gmail.com
Sub-Groups
We also have various sub-groups that take responsibility for different areas of ministry:
- Fabric & Maintenance
- Finance
- Social Evangelism Outreach (SOE)
- Communications
- Mission Support
- Pastoral