People
Fr Jonathan Lewis-Jong
Vicar
Having grown up in Malaysian Borneo, Jonathan then completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies in New Zealand before arriving in Oxford in 2012 for postdoctoral research at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography as well as for ordination training at Cuddesdon. Once he was ordained in 2014, he served his curacy at St Mary Magdalen's, and stayed on thereafter as Associate Priest. He married Ella Mae here in 2019, where they also met. Jonathan and Ella left Oxford in 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, new baby Edith (and puppy Nimbus) in tow, to be closer to family in West Sussex. From 2021, Jonathan was Rector of Cocking with West Lavington, Bepton, and Heyshott while also maintaining his academic work at the intersection of psychological science and theology. His most recent books include Experimenting with Religion (2023; OUP) and The Nature of Belief (2026; OUP, with Eric Schwtizgebel, eds)—more information about his academic work can be found at www.jonathanlewisjong.info. Jonathan, Ella Mae and Edith return with a more recent addition to the family, Caspar, who is turning three.
Clergy
Mthr Melanie Marshall
Associate Priest
Mel began coming to Mary Mags in 2007, after someone described it as “the really catholic church that likes women”. She was confirmed here and soon began discerning a priestly vocation, while writing a DPhil at Brasenose on Tacitus and Lucan. Moving to Westcott House in Cambridge, she read theology at Emmanuel, then served a curacy in Chiswick. In 2015 she returned to Oxford—and Mary Mags—to become Chaplain of Lincoln for five delightful years. After a lock-down-ridden spell at Merton, she spent a happy time as Chaplain of Balliol before taking a break to have a second baby. She currently teaches Latin literature at Univ, and also writes bits and pieces: chapters of popular theology, opera programme notes, book reviews for the Church Times, and numerous sermons and talks. She lives in a tumbledown Victorian house with her tumbledown Victorian husband (Professor Mark Edwards, a patristics specialist), the children, a mountain of yarn, and many visitors.
Fr Barry Hammett
Honorary Priest Assistant
Barry was educated at Eltham College, from where he went to Magdalen College to read Modern Languages. While at Magdalen he was an Academical Clerk (Choral Scholar). After Finals he studied at St Stephen’s House and did Finals for the second time, this time in Theology. For part of his last year in training he was one of the first Anglican ordinands to go to the English College in Rome. In 1974 he went to Plymouth to serve his title in St Peter’s parish and was ordained as a priest in 1975. Having served in the parish for three years he joined the Royal Navy as a Chaplain in 1977 and served for 29 years. From 1996 to 2000 he was the Principal of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, a tri-service appointment, and he became an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen in 1999. In 2002 he took up the role of Chaplain of the Fleet (the head of the Chaplaincy Service of all faiths and denominations) and Archdeacon for the Royal Navy. He was appointed as a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) in 2006. He retired in 2006.
Honorary Priest Assistant
Mthr Judith Brown
Judith is an Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College. She was from 1990 to 2011 Beit Professor of Commonwealth History at Oxford, having taught previously in Manchester University and Cambridge. Her academic speciality is modern India. She was born in India and has spent considerable time there for research. She knew she was called to the priesthood as a young woman, well before the Anglican Church ordained women. Eventually she was able to answer that calling, and was ordained in 2009. Before coming to Mary Mags in 2014 she ministered in the Botley benefice, with a particular care for St Frideswide's church. She acted as interim chaplain at Brasenose college in 2017, and is a spiritual director. She was married to her late husband, Peter, for 31 years: their son, James, works in political consultancy in London and is married to Julia Sitkovetsky, an opera singer. Judith is a passionate gardener, and also enjoys walking and classical music.
Officers
Deborah Vorhies
Deborah was born in Cape Town and has spent most of her life working in international policy in Geneva and saving the environment in various unlikely locations. Now settled in Oxford, she works with FairWild Foundation and AWEI—the African Wildlife Economy Institute. In her leisure hours she can be found attending concerts, dabbling in her tiny garden and indulging in the sport of philosophy, specifically ethics.
Churchwarden
Charl Engela
Charl was born half-Scots and half-Afrikaans in Chelsea, grew up on a farm in South Africa. He has degrees in art history and music, and spent most of his working life as an IT consultant. He now works for Oxfordshire County Council, but has no responsibility for potholes. Having passed through Catholic school and strict Calvinist churches, he has found his spiritual home at Mary Mags. His pastimes include playing bass in various jazz bands, making and drinking cocktails, and supporting the Springboks, Oxford United, and Aston Villa. He is married to Suzie with whom he shares five adult children and stepchildren, and three grandsons.
Churchwarden
Will Dawes
Director of Music
Will Dawes is Director of Music at Mary Mags (since 2011) and Director of Chapel Music at Somerville College (since 2017). He has directed the BBC Singers, the Eric Whitacre Singers and worked as chorusmaster for the Netherlands Radio Choir and the Aurora Orchestra.
Will is also a professional baritone, and for 16 years was a member of Stile Antico, one of the foremost vocal ensembles on the planet; and has sung with most of the top professional choirs in the UK including The Sixteen, The Cardinall's Musick, Ora, Magnificat, Gabrieli Consort, Polyphony, and London Voices. He was founding Director of Music of Frideswide Voices, the first choir to offer 7-13 year old girls the opportunity to sing in regular liturgical events in Oxford College Chapels. It is now the girl’s choir of Christ Church Cathedral.
Safeguarding Officer
Frankie Holloway
Frankie grew up in Windsor and spent much of her 20s living in Oxford and London. She began her career in journalism and marketing and is now Head of Philosophy & Religion at a large boarding school. Frankie began attending St. Mary Mags 10 years ago, while studying for her PGCE. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, attending the ballet, visiting galleries and museums and spending time with her partner Christopher.
For more information about Safeguarding and to contact the Safeguarding Officers, please visit our Safeguarding page.
Oscar Riba-Thompson
Honorary Treasurer
Henry Jestico
Henry grew up in Oxfordshire and after studying in Durham and working in universities in London he moved to Oxford, where he was Academic Registrar of Brasenose College for over a decade before moving to the same role at St John’s College. He is married to Liz, a former regular member of the Mary Mags choir, and in his spare time he enjoys singing, pub quizzes, and watching sport.
For more information about Safeguarding and to contact the Safeguarding Officers, please visit our Safeguarding page.
Safeguarding Officer