Our Clergy

Fr Christopher Brading SSC
Vicar

Fr Chris became Vicar of St Richard’s Parish Church in May 2017.  

He trained for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford and was ordained to the priesthood in July 2015. He was curate of St Margaret's Church, Swinton, South Yorkshire.
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Fr Chris has spent most of his secular career in marketing and communications, which included senior management positions in a number of high technology companies and running his own consultancy business in Berkshire; he was born and grew up in the Portsmouth area.

Fr Chris and his wife Carolyn, have a teenage son, Sam and a Great Dane, called Murphy.

Fr Chris' rest day is Monday.

Revd Canon Rebecca Swyer
Deacon

Revd Rebecca works for the Diocese of Chichester as Director for Apostolic Life and has responsibility for both ordained and lay Christians to further their spiritual journey.

A member of General Synod, she is also chair of the Board of Studies at St Augustine’s College of Theology, an associate lecturer at the University of Chichester and a Canon of Chichester Cathedral. 

Rebecca is married to Fr David, who is Priest in charge of the parish church of Portslade. They have three grown up children: Lizzie, Charlie and Nick. 

Fr Gordon Bond SSC
​​Honorary Assistant Priest

Fr Gordon trained at Chichester Theology College. Originally from Yorkshire he spent most of his ministry in the South of England and mainly in the Diocese of Chichester.

During his ministry he was Chaplain to Bishop Colin Docker, Bishop of Horsham and spent a large part of his ministry at St Mary, East Grinstead.

​Since retiring Fr Gordon has made St Richard's his spiritual home whilst enjoying some time to travel and keeping his fluency in French, Italian and German 
 

Retired Clergy
We are blessed at St Richard's to have a number of other retired clergy who have made St Richard's their spiritual home and who support the work of the parish.

Canon Clay Knowles SSC

Fr Clay trained at Rippon College, Cuddesdon. During his ministry Fr Clay was the Vicar of St Paul's Cathedral on the Island of St Helena for three years before coming back to the UK to be Team Vicar at the Good Shepherd. He then became the Adult Education Advisor for the Diocese of Chichester. He was also Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Burgess Hill.

Fr Clay is married to Jackie; they have two grown up children and several grand children.

Canon John Twisleton SSC

Fr John trained at the Resurrection, Mirfield. During his ministry Fr John was the Theological College Principal in Guyana in the West Indies. Moving back to the UK he was the Diocesan Mission Advisor for a number of years. Prior to his retirement Fr John was the Rector at St Giles Church, Hostead Keynes and Chaplain to the Bluebell Railway.

Fr John is married to Anne and has three sons: David, John and James

Canon Lambert Poodhun SSC

Fr Lambert is married to Ivy, they have grown up children and several grandchildren.