Welcome to the St. James’ and St. Basil’s Team. We are a small team with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. Please come and talk to us, we look forward to meeting with you.
Revd James McGowan - Vicar
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James arrived in the Parish at the end of February 2019 having previously spent almost eight years on the Isle of Man, first as Assistant Curate at Cathedral Isle of Man and then latterly serving as Vicar of four Churches in the south east corner of the Island together with a number of other roles in the Diocese of Sodor and Man. After completing undergraduate studies in York, he trained as a secondary teacher at the University of Durham and taught Religious Studies in the North East for a number of years before training for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham. He was awarded an MA in Faith and Public Policy from the University of Chester in 2016 and has an interest in the area of Disability Theology and Education Policy and Practice. James is a Director of Pele Academy Trust and Newcastle Diocesan Board of Education. Together with his son and daughter they attempt to cajole their stubborn Bedlington Terrier, Maggie and can often be found by the sea day dreaming about life. James might also be seen around the parish on his motorbike – a pastime inherited from the Isle of Man.
Revd B. Osaro Omobude - Associate Priest
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Osaro joined the Parish in 2015 as Assistant Curate and began to develop a distinctive ministry to support the Anglican African Community in the City. Alongside supporting general parish life, Osaro continues to lead the Anglican African Chaplaincy as Priest and Pastor. Osaro works as a Mental Health Chaplain in Hospitals in Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire for the Tees, Esk and Wear Vally NHS Foundation Trust. Originally from Nigeria, Osaro entered the Minor Seminary at the age of 14 to begin training and formation as a Roman Catholic Priest in his home country. He has studied at the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, The Catholic University in Amsterdam and at Ushaw Seminary and St John’s College Durham before joining the Anglican Church. He now lives with his wife Ellen and their three children in the West of the city
Revd Ryan McKeon
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Following his ordination in the summer of 2022, Ryan joined the parish as Assistant Curate. Ryan grew up and lived on the South Coast in Worthing. Attending the local school and college and working in several jobs, It was while working for a church in Worthing that Ryan first felt called to church ministry. Following this call, Ryan moved to Southampton to Work for a church in Shirley. From Shirley, Ryan moved to Bristol for seminary and studied for his degree in theology, after which he moved to the northeast. He and his partner enjoy a number of hobbies, Including hiking, reading and eating!
Tony Roberts - Churchwarden
At 10, Tony became a choir boy at my local church in Middlesex and was confirmed aged 14. After leaving school he became a computer programmer firstly in England then spending a few years in America. Back in England he did a stint as an IT manger in Dorset, then moved to Buckinghamshire. He changed profession and became a gardener. Tony moved to Newcastle in 2014 and became a volunteer gardener at Js&Bs. In 2018 he started to organise jazz concerts inside the church and then, due to the pandemic, transfered them to the gardens. He became a regular member of the congregation and joined the Church Council in 2022, before becoming a churchwarden in 2023.
Nigel Welch - Churchwarden
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Myles joined us as our resident organist in July 2024. Myles studied music at the University of Oxford before training as a Secondary School Teacher. In 2005, he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists after a period of study with David Sanger. Soon after, he gained a Master of Studies degree in Musicology from the University of Oxford with a dissertation exploring some of the work of William Child. This interest continued to develop leading to the award of a PhD in Music from the University of York in 2023. Myles looks forward to some of his research being published by the Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Church Music Society, in the coming months as his work outside the Parish continues.
Margaret Green - Safeguarding Officer & Electoral Roll Officer
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Margaret is on the Safeguarding team and can be approached if anyone has any concerns about young or vunerable people. She is also responsible for keeping the electoral roll up to date. If you wish to be on this roll, Margaret is the person to contact.