Staff and Board

Business Manager: Susanne Thompson

Susanne originally comes from Philadelphia. She trained as a teacher before coming to England in 1983. She is married to the Revd Dr Mike Thompson, who is Associate Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Archeology takes up most of her spare time these days. 

Managing Editor: The Revd Dr Ian Paul

Ian is a theologian, writer and speaker. He is Associate Minister at St Nic's, Nottingham and Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. A Mac user and chocoholic he Tweets at @Psephizo and writes an award-winning blog at www.psephizo.com He is married to Maggie, who is a GP in Derbyshire, and they have three children. He completed a PhD on the Book of Revelation, and then spent eight years on the staff of St Mary's, a town centre church in Poole, Dorset followed by nine years as Dean of Studies at St John's College, Nottingham.

Office Assistant: Sanna Curtis

Sanna is a Geography graduate of Exeter University and obtained her MSc in Environmental Policy from Imperial College, London. She subsequently worked in Environmental consulting and as a conservation adviser for FWAG. A keen reader, she is delighted to be involved in the world of publishing with Grove Books, a role she combines with providing administrative support for a local consulting firm.

The Revd Alexandra Guest (Chair) was ordained in 2017 after spending 7 years studying Philosophy and Theology at various universities including London, Oxford and finally Ridley Hall. She served her curacy at Waltham Abbey in Essex and currently leads a church in Dagenham. Alex is assistant Spiritual Director of the Chelmsford Diocese Cursillo, and assistant Diocesan Refugee Coordinator. She is passionate about new and emerging church communities, previously researching Fresh Expressions across traditions, broadening ecclesiology, and a project underway exploring faith in a world of Artificial Intelligence.

The Revd Canon Mark Collinson (Treasurer) is currently Canon Principal of the School of Mission in the Diocese of Winchester and residentiary canon at Winchester Cathedral. Mark spent nearly fourteen years involved in church planting in the Netherlands as Chaplain of Christ Church, Amsterdam. He is writing a doctoral dissertation on missional ecclesiology. Prior to ordination he worked as an international management consultant.

Dr Frances Shaw (Company Secretary) first became associated with Grove in 1999. Since then the Company has grown and changed quite a lot, and she has completed a doctorate on Matthew's Gospel and nurtured three children. She encourages literacy and theological education through her charity work, and tries to be organised and keep fit. She is a Churchwarden, Trustee of Feed the Minds, Chair of the United Society for Christian Literature, and taught on the Guildford Diocesan Ministry Programme for quite a few years.

The Ven Trevor Lloyd was Archdeacon of Barnstaple until his retirement and now lives thirty yards from the beach at Westward Ho! in North Devon. Married to Eldey, with four children and seven grandchildren, he chairs a major regional charity, Children's Hospice South West. He was a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission for over twenty years, heavily involved in the production of Common Worship and Patterns for Worship, as well as in the Synodical process and chaired the group responsible for communication, education and the marketing of Common Worship.

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 Canon James Blandford-Baker is Vicar of Histon and Vicar of Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge, Rural Dean of North Stowe and a Member of the General Synod of the Church of England. He is married to Katharine, who typesets and edits for Grove, and they have two grown up children. Before moving to Cambridge in 2006, James was a Vicar in West London and DDO in the Willesden Area of the London Diocese. A research engineer by background, James is interested in cabinet making, astronomy, the life and work of Isaac Newton and all things to do with Apple computers. He has been described by the Bishop of Worcester as 'Renaissance man.'

The Revd Dr Rhona Knight is married to Chris and they have three adult children. She was a GP educator and academic for 25 years with a specialist interest in ethics, wellbeing and professionalism. She served on the Nuffield Council of Bioethics for seven years. She was ordained in the Church of England in 2016 and led on the teaching of Pastoral Care and Ethics at Lincoln School of Theology. In retirement she continues as a pastoral supervisor, spiritual accompanier and retreat leader while also teaching and researching in the areas of trauma and boundaries in ministry. 

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.