The Peak Parishes

Tel: 01260 253945

Who's Who

The following are the members our Ministerial team. 


Rev'd John Harries - Vicar of Peak Parishes

vicar@peakparishes.org.uk  01260 253945

Rev'd Anna Cerval-Pena - Curate

curateanna@peakparishes.org.uk 07307 210080

Judith Harries - Pastoral Worker

pastoral@peakparishes.org.uk 01260 253945

We are also regularly supported by two retired ministers - Phil Williams and Ivan Whinton.

 

  John became the vicar of our Benefice on 11th May 2015 at an Induction Service taken by Bishop Libby Lane.

John was born and raised in SE London and after leaving school went to Bristol University to study Chemical Physics.  After his degree he obtained a Ph.D. in ‘Crystal related arthropathies’, ie gout, osteoarthritis etc. in conjunction with the Bristol Royal Infirmary.  He was encouraged to carry out an experiment at a relatively new facility at Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire.  He became hooked and started post-doctoral work at Manchester Biophysics department and Daresbury investigating bone formation.  Two years later he moved permanently to Daresbury investigating muscle structure and function.  He says that at that stage it was, without doubt, the high point of his scientific career and life. He loved everything about his work and had met and married his wife, Judith.  In the next few years Becky and Millie were born.

But John says that the Lord was working in his heart and gradually directing him away from science towards a ministry within the church. He cannot say when or even how it began, or how it was that he could be so fulfilled in the work he was doing and yet walk away from it to undertake something for which he felt totally inadequate and unprepared.  Yet by God’s grace that is exactly what he did.  He handed in his notice at work and moved to Wycliffe College in Oxford to begin training for ordained ministry in the C of E.  He was then 35. Whilst in Oxford, his third daughter Abi was born.

He began his first curacy at St. George’s, Hyde and four years later, on completion of his curacy, moved to St John’s Church, Higher Walton, Warrington to take up the post of Priest-in-charge.  He feels God must have a sense of humour returning him to a parish not 2 miles from the laboratory where he had been working before being.  He was at St John for nearly 15 years.

On seeing the vacancy for our Benefice, John felt he was being called to serve God here and became the vicar of our Benefice on 11th May 2015 at an Induction Service taken by Bishop Libby Lane.

John has  published a book entitled Beyond Suffering: Encountering Christ in the Book of Job.

     
 
  Anna I am very excited about the prospect of joining you for my curacy, but what can I tell you as an introduction! My name is Anna and I have just finished training as an ordinand on the mixed-mode pathway at St. Mellitus College. This means I spent half my time studying for an MA in Christian leadership and the other half at my placement church, St. Philip and St. James in Alderley Edge.  I loved the mix of academic and practical work and have learnt so much from both. The lockdown has been a particular challenge but has led to finding new exciting ways of worshipping as well as a deeper appreciation of the old and finding new ways of being community together, both as a college and on placement.

Before being accepted for training I spent a long time on the discernment process, almost all my life! I first felt called to ministry at secondary school but spent a long time testing the calling out and trying to figure out what it actually meant.  I trained at university as a community and youth worker and worked for a church in Toxteth, Liverpool when I graduated. After that, we moved around a few times and I spent time volunteering in various positions in churches gaining a lot of experience of the variety of ways local churches live out their faith in different contexts.  

In 2011 we landed in Macclesfield and put down some roots. We joined All Saints Church and enjoyed becoming part of the family there. In 2013 I undertook the Foundations for Ministry course with Steph and began thinking about ordination again but it wasn’t until 2018 that I took the plunge and began the official process. In the meantime, I volunteered and then helped manage the Hope Centre in Macclesfield, where I may have met some of you.  I am very proud to have been part of the leadership team of that important outreach and community hub.  

I am married to Eligio, who I met at university, and we have one son Antonio. Eligio is a Select Committee Clark and Antonio is just about to start his GCSEs at Macclesfield Academy.  

When I have time for hobbies, I enjoy almost anything crafty, especially making things from fabric. I also love walking (especially if it is from one country pub to another) and reading or watching fantasy fiction or a good murder mystery.

I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and worshipping with you in your beautiful parishes.

Blessings,
Anna

 

  Judith is our pastoral worker and John's wife.

 

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