Chalke Valley Churches - About Us
We aim to
Deliver high quality worship and develop a range of Christian worship so that all are welcomed and enriched in their faith.
Love our neighbours and demonstrate this by giving our time and sharing our resources.
Serve and support our village communities and especially those who are disadvantaged.
Work with the schools in our valley to support them as they nurture young people early in their faith journey.
We are part of the Chalke Deanery, within the Salisbury Diocese.
Chalke Valley Churches - Team Rector
Revd Dr Ruth Howlett-Shipley
Ruth studied medicine at University College London before embarking on a varied medical career. She spent the last 20 years of her medical career as a Consultant in Public Health Medicine specialising in the management of complex outbreaks and pandemics.
She trained for ministry at Sarum College and on the Portsmouth Pathway at Ripon College, Cuddesdon.
Ruth was Ordained in 2019 in Portsmouth Cathedral and served her curacy in the parishes of St Nicholas, Wickham and St John the Baptist, Shedfield. In September 2022 she took up the post of Team Vicar in the Chalke Valley Benefice and following a further recruitment process in Sept 2023, Ruth was appointed Team Rector.
Team Vicar - Revd Alison Waterhouse
Alison was born in Bradford -upon-Avon. Her father worked for 4 years on the Longleat Estate, before they moved to Surrey, where she grew up learning to ride her bicycle in Windsor Great Park.
She moved to Petersfield in 1989, working for Royal Mail and stayed with them for 34 years. Alison started training in September 2019 on the Portsmouth Pathway Theological Study Course, in conjunction with Cuddesdon Theological College in Oxfordshire and Durham University.
Alison was ordained in Portsmouth Cathedral as deacon in June 2021 and as priest in 2022, serving her Curacy in Petersfield.
She is a street Pastor, which keeps her feet firmly on the ground. Alison firmly believes that most of us live in a privileged environment, and she never wants to lose sight of those that have so little, when we have so much. Alison is also a trained Anna Chaplain looking after those that are the vulnerable in our society.
Alison's spare time is spent walking, cycling (on a new electric bike) taking it out for the first time last week, she got up to 14.3 miles per hour!! Alison also likes to do craft projects, sewing, painting, flower arranging etc. but describes herself as 'strictly an amateur'.
Associate Priest - Revd Kate Woolven
Kate was brought up in the Chalke Valley. Following her marriage to Jonathan in 1988, she trained as a garden designer. They set up and successfully ran their own landscaping company in the Chalke Valley for 13 years. In 2004 they joined the community at Lee Abbey in North Devon. They ministered there for six years, and it was during this time Kate felt called to ordination.
Kate trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol and was ordained in 2009. She served her curacy in The Five Alive Mission Community in the Exeter Diocese. Following this Kate became Priest in Charge of the Parishes of Uplyme and Axmouth, also in the Exeter Diocese. In 2015 she was appointed as Rector to these two parishes.
In 2019 Kate and Jonathan returned to the Chalke Valley. Following Covid, she assisted the Chalke Valley clergy taking occasional services. She has recently been appointed to a part time role as Associate Priest with responsibility for Bowerchalke.
Associate Priest - Reverend Maggie Metcalfe
Maggie joined the team in October 2024 having served a 3 year curacy in the Wylye and Till Valley benefice. After a long career as a midwife and then a health visitor, Maggie felt called to ordained ministry. Training at Sarum College she was ordained in Salisbury Cathedral; Deacon in 2021 by Bishop Nicholas Holtham, and Priest in 2022 by Bishop Stephen Lake – the last service for one Bishop and the first for the other!
Maggie and her husband Jeremy have lived in the Chalke Valley since 2006 after many years in Army quarters, and Maggie is delighted to be able to minister in these beautiful parishes which they consider home. The Metcalfes have 3 adult daughters and sons in law and a growing family of grandchildren. They have 2 labradors and an electric bike which Maggie hopes to employ regularly on trips up and down the valley.
Chalke Valley Churches - Our Administrator
Emily works part time as Team Administrator for the Benefice.
Her main responsibilities are managing communication and the organisation of Team wide activities.
Emily Broomhead - 07890 262376 - thechalkevalleychurches@gmail.com