Group Conveners

The Revd Dr Richard Briggs is Prior of the Community of St Cuthbert based at St Nics Church in central Durham, and he is Visiting Research Fellow in Old Testament at Cranmer Hall, in St John's College, Durham, where he worked full-time for 18 years. He was ordained in the Church of England in 2015. He has written widely on the subject of biblical interpretation, including Reading the Bible Wisely (revised edition, Wipf & Stock, 2011) and The Virtuous Reader (Baker Academic, 2010), as well as a detailed study of Psalm 23: The Lord is My Shepherd (Baker Academic, 2021), and even a book of poetry (Not of this Worldview (Sacristy Press, 2021)). He has written eight Grove books, including two in the Spirituality series on Bible reading. He is married to Melody and they have three adult children.

The Revd Richard Steel is Mission Team Leader for the Diocese of Lincoln. Previously he was Rector of Kirkheaton. He has also been Communication Director of the Church Mission Society (CMS), a Diocesan Communication Officer and a Religious Programmes Presenter on local commercial radio in the midlands. He retains a keen interest in the arts and media and is a Chaplain for the Creative Arts Retreat Movement. He also convenes the Grove Leadership group.

Dr Jenny Leith is Director of Studies at the Cambridge Centre of Christianity Worldwide. Prior to her current role, she completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Roehampton and a PhD in political theology at Durham University. Her research centres on the question of how Christian ethical and political formation takes place, with a particular focus on how this happens in the context of the Church of England. This research grew out of several years spent working as a parliamentary researcher and in social policy. She is a visiting lecturer at King’s College London and the College of the Resurrection.

After four years teaching secondary English and Drama, Sue Coyne’s post-graduate diploma in Acting and Musical Theatre led to work with Saltmine Theatre Company. Marriage to an RAF Chaplain meant a return to teaching, in upper school and FE colleges, until halted by Chronic Fatigue. Sue subsequently worked for The Stapleford Centre and Bible Society, as commissioning editor and project leader for a free English Literature web resource (www.crossref-it.info). Following this, she undertook an MA in Shakespeare and Theatre through the Shakespeare Institute (part of the University of Birmingham).

Sue is an enthusiastic communicator and has been a Licensed Lay Minister since 2001. She has led an Open the Book team (in a non-faith primary school) as well as been a C of E primary Foundation Governor. After frequent house moves she is securely based in the North Cotswolds, with two step and two adoptive children and four grandchildren. As well as convening, she helps edit Grove Education texts.

The Rev’d Dr Tim Howles is a postdoctoral researcher at the Laudato Si’ Research Institute, University of Oxford. His research focuses on integral ecology, especially in light of recent Catholic Social Teaching, and theological approaches to understanding the contemporary environmental crisis. He has published widely on critical theory and contemporary philosophy. He is also an Associate Research Fellow of the William Temple Foundation. Tim is an ordained priest with a license to officiate in the Diocese of Oxford. He turned to Grove booklets for guidance a number of times as a younger Christian and is delighted to have the chance now to support their work. Tim is author of E192 Responding Faithfully to the Environmental Crisis and co-author of E198 Covid-19: Environment, Justice and the Future.

Colin Smith is the Dean of Mission Education at the Church Mission Society. His role involves him in the preparation and training  of  mission partners and he also teaches on the Pioneer Mission Leadership course. Having initially training as a social worker, Colin spent two years in India as a CMS volunteer before returning to the UK and embarking on ordination training.  He has worked in parishes in Bermondsey and Forest Hill and also taught on a locally ordained ministry scheme. From 1999 to 2014 Colin was a CMS mission partner in Kenya where he taught at Carlile College and headed up the Centre for Urban Mission, a ministry of Church Army Africa, based in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi. Colin has a particular interest in mission in urban contexts and his postgraduate research explored the role of Pentecostal churches in urban transformation. He has a doctorate in missiology from the University of South Africa.

The Rev'd Becky Dyball is Rector of a set of rural parishes in the north of Cambridgeshire (Sawtry, Glatton and Holme with Conington, in Ely Diocese). Becky trained for ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. Before ordained ministry Becky had various roles, largely in the charity and third sector including: Keynote Speaker Manager for Tearfund, Director of Community Development for a regeneration company in London and Community Participation Manager for Housing Association in Richmond. Becky is a passionate communicator, creative thinker, networker and entrepreneur. She is married to Alex who shares a passion for lego with their son, Noah.

After completing a classics degree (with some theology) at Pembroke College, Cambridge, the Revd Canon Ian Silk taught English to international students at Newnham Language Centre and then trained for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol. His subsequent ministry in Lincolnshire in parishes, chaplaincies, cathedral, fresh expressions of church, theological education, mission leadership, mentoring and developing discipleship gave him vital insight into the ways Grove is able to equip the Church with outstanding resources for its life and mission today. He is currently working on a professional doctorate in practical theology with the University of Chester. Ian has four sons, two daughters-in-law and two granddaughters, so his main 'hobby' is his family!

The Revd Andy Stinson is Rector of Barrow and Worship and Liturgy Missioner for Diocese of Chester. He is passionate about creative worship and liturgy and tries to find ways to use his skills as a musician and poet to do both. He is married to Cat and is dad to Isaac and Nathan.

The Revd Paul Nash is Senior Chaplain at Birmingham Children's Hospital and a part time tutor at the Midlands Centre for Youth Ministry. Ordained in 1997 he served his Curacy in the multi-cultural parish of Aston in Birmingham and before that worked in a range of roles for Youth for Christ. He has a particular interest in Theological Reflection and medical ethics, he is a qualified Myers Briggs Practitioner and is involved in spiritual direction and ministry support. In his spare time he is a keen golfer and Chelsea supporter!