Here is a summary of recent appointments, resignations, retirements and deaths in the Diocese of Durham.
Appointments
The Revd Sarah Millican Jones, currently Curate of Alive Church, Gateshead has been appointed as Associate Vicar, Alive Church. Sarah will be licensed on 1 September 2026.
The Revd Gareth Gladman, currently Curate of Christ the King, Bowburn and St Andrew’s Tudhoe has been appointed as Priest in Charge of The Ascension, Middlesbrough in the Diocese of York. Gareth will be licensed to his new role on 9 September.
The Revd Simon Spencer, currently Curate of Pelton and West Pelton has been appointed as Vicar of Newburn in the Diocese of Newcastle. Simon takes up his new role on 10 September.
The Revd Alfred Jennings, currently Curate of Stockton St Paul has been appointed as Priest in Charge of the Benefice of Barrow Team Ministry in the Diocese of Carlisle. Alfred takes up his new role on 11 September.
The Revd Hannah Raitt, currently Interim Urban Pioneer Minister in the Benefice of Bankfoot and Bowling in the Diocese of Leeds, has been appointed as Priest in Charge of Easington, Easington Colliery and Hawthorn. The Licensing service will be held in September.
Deaths
The Revd Ian Zass-Ogilvie RIP
The Bishop of Durham was saddened to hear of the death of the Revd Ian Zass-Ogilvie on 29th July 2026, in Warwick Hospital.
Born in 1938, Ian trained for the ministry at King’s College London and St Boniface’s College Warminster, and was ordained Deacon in 1966 and priest in 1967. He served his curacy at Washington (1966-1970) and was then the Bishop‘s Society and Industrial Adviser for North Durham, 1970-1973. A brief period as honorary curate at St John’s Newcastle (1973-1975) was followed by three years as Vicar of St John’s Percy Main, also in Newcastle Diocese. In 1978 he moved south and served in the London and Rochester Dioceses until 1984, when he moved to Scotland, serving in the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness 1984-1988 and then Edinburgh (1988-2000).
Ian then returned to the Durham Diocese as Chief Officer of the Churches’ Regional Commission in the NE, 2000-2005. He then received PTO in the Durham Diocese and in Aberdeen and Orkney Diocese, while also being a Research Fellow and Tutor at St Chad’s College. He and his wife had recently moved to Coventry to be close to family.
The funeral service will take place at St Peter’s Church, Holly Lane, Balsall Common, Coventry, on Monday 7 September at 11am. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on YouTube, with the recording available afterwards at the same link. A private, family-only committal will follow at Canley Crematorium. Those who have travelled to attend are warmly invited to join the family for a reception from around 12.30pm at The Pavilion at Nailcote Hall, Berkswell.
No flowers, please. Donations may be made to Waddington Street Centre in Durham or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). A MuchLoved tribute page has been created to make donations in Ian’s memory.
Please remember Ian’s widow and family in your prayers at this sad time.
The Revd Robert Douglass Thomson RIP
The Bishop of Durham was saddened to learn of the death recently of the Revd Robert Douglass Thomson. Born in 1937, Robert trained as a teacher (Teaching Cert from London University 1961; Diploma in Advanced Educational Studies from Newcastle University 1970; B.Ed from Durham in 1975)), and later trained for ordination through NEOC, being ordained deacon in 1979 and priest in 1980. He served as NSM at Shincliffe 1979-1998, and also as Chaplain to St Aidan’s College of Durham University 1993-1999. He retired in 1999 and then held PTO in the Diocese until 2021.
Throughout his ministry he gave generously of his time to the wider community. He volunteered for St Cuthbert’s Hospice and Durham Cathedral and, through various fund raising events with St Mary’s Shincliffe, supported numerous charitable. His ministry was characterised by quiet commitment, kindness, and a willingness to serve wherever he was needed.
Please hold Robert’s family and friends in your prayers at this sad time.