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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 27 January 2020. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
FIVE new Honorary Canons and two new Lay Canons have been installed at Oxford's Christ Church Cathedral at a special ceremony in January.
In the same ceremony, three people were admitted to the Order of St Frideswide. Canons are selected because of their work within the Diocese of Oxford and the wider Church.
Similarly, the Order of St Frideswide is a recognition of those who have made a distinctive and significant contribution to the life and well-being of the Diocese. The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, said: "We are hugely blessed in this Diocese to have so many people, lay and ordained, who do so much in their churches, their communities, and beyond.
I am delighted that this service allows us to say thank you to some of those people for the outstanding work they have done and are doing to make a difference. "Below are biographies of our new Canons.
Lay Canons
Mark Humphriss
As Diocesan Secretary since July, Mark leads the staff team at Church House and has a key role in the diocesan strategy Common Vision becoming real across the diocese. Previously he was University Secretary at the University of Bath.
Mark has also worked for the Archbishops' Council, Lambeth Palace and Church Urban Fund.
Mark, a former Reading University student, is married to Rachel.
The couple have two teenage sons. Mark is also Vice-Chair of the charity Designability, a trustee of the Holburne Museum and enjoys the theatre, concerts and holidays to interesting places.
Rosemary Tucker
Rosemary grew up in Kent and began her career in retail.
She volunteered for Oxfam before becoming a secretary for the charity in the London office, and then a trainer and facilitator in the Oxford HQ.
She was head of training and HR Director for Oxfam before becoming the Director of Mission Resources at USPG.
She then became the Director of the Mission Resource Department at USPG.
She became an independent consultant in 2002 working with hospices, colleges, charities and the Church.
"Throughout all my time in Oxfordshire, the Diocese of Oxford has been a place of learning, support, prayer and development as a parishioner and in my work as a Ministry Accompanier, Spiritual Director, Supervisor, Trainer and Facilitator," says Rosemary, who has travelled extensively in her various roles.
Honorary Canons
The Revd David Tyler
David has been Rector of Hanborough and Freeland for over 12 years and has twice acted as Area Dean of Woodstock.
For the last year-and-a-half, he has acted as Assistant Archdeacon of Dorchester.
David is a member of the Diocesan Audit Committee and has served as a governor at two Church schools.
He sits on the Board of Members for the Eynsham Partnership Academy.
He is married to Catherine, a Clinical Psychologist and they have two children, Josh who is reading Chemistry at Bristol and Charlotte who is sitting GCSEs at The Kings School, Witney.
In his spare time, David enjoys exercising his Cocker Spaniel, Poppy and hill walking.
The Revd Dr Phillip Tovey
Phillip, the Warden of Readers for the Diocese and Principal of the Local Ministry Pathway, was born in Oxford.
After university in London, he worked in various lay capacities for eight years, including with CMS in Uganda.
Ordained in the diocese, he was a curate in Buckinghamshire and a vicar in Banbury and Oxfordshire.
For the last 21 years, he has worked in training ministers (lay and ordained).
He is interested in liturgy and has written several books.
He also likes walking and rugby.
The Revd Felicity Scroggie
Felicity grew up in East Yorkshire and studied at Oxford University, and St Andrews's in Scotland.
A law lecturer, she then worked in a prison education department, and for the London Diocese training churchgoers in urban priority areas before ordination.
She continued to serve in the capital before becoming the Team Rector of Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
Last year Felicity was appointed Bishop Steven's first Advisor in Women's Ministry.
She has a Labrador, Harvey, is passionate about horses and is married to Justin.
The Revd Toby Wright
Toby has been the Team Rector of the Witney Benefice since 2009.
From 2013-2019 he was Area Dean of Witney Deanery and has served on Bishop's Council, Diocesan Synod and the Board of Mission.
He is a trustee of the Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage.
Currently, Toby is enjoying a placement with the RAF looking at strategy in organisations and is studying Bowen's Family Systems Theory.
Before coming to Witney, Toby was Parish Priest of Saint John Chrysostom with Saint Andrew in Peckham, South London and Area Dean of Camberwell and was a national director of Affirming Catholicism and Chaired Fresh Expressions Roundtable 5.
The Revd Rachel Carnegie
Rachel Carnegie is the Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance, which helps to connect, equip and inspire churches and agencies around the worldwide Anglican Communion in tackling poverty and injustice and safeguarding creation.
Previously she served as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for International Development.
Rachel has worked in international development since 1985.
She was ordained priest in 2005 in the Diocese of Southwark.
Rachel is married and has two adult children.
In 2017 the family moved to Dorchester, where Rachel also assists the ministry team.
Order of St Frideswide
Martin Conway
Martin brought to the Diocese of Oxford a wealth of ecumenical experience gained in the World Church through working as a layman in the Student Christian Movement, the World Student Christian Federation, the World Council of Churches, the British Council of Churches, Ripon College, Cuddesdon and the Selly Oak Colleges.
He gained additional insights by acting as a simultaneous interpreter at ecumenical assemblies and as Chair of the Friends of the Church in China.
Having retired to Oxford in 1997 he then served as Chair of the Diocesan Board of Social Responsibility and on Bishop's Council.
Ruth Conway
Ruth founded the network of Design & Technology teachers focussing on the impact of technology on people and the environment.
Inspired by the 5 th Mark of Mission (to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the life of the earth) Ruth led the Education Group of the European Christian Environmental Network, was involved in the Environmental Issues Network of the British Churches, the development of Eco-congregation and Operation Noah.
Ruth was an active member of the Diocesan Environment Group and helped organise the 2010 Oxfordshire Leaders Climate Forum.
At Parish level, she coordinated the restoration of the SS Mary & John churchyard in East Oxford from a criminal area to a quiet, green community space.
Rosemary Pearce
Rosemary is being admitted to the Order of St Frideswide in recognition of her service to the Diocese as Diocesan Secretary.
Rosemary retired last year after 20 years in the role.
Before coming to the Diocese of Oxford, Rosemary was UK Director of the charity Cruse Bereavement Care. She worships at St Mary's and St John's Church, Whitchurch-on-Thames.
She enjoys travelling in Italy and exploring the Thames and local canals in her kayak.