Welcome to Rachel and Michele

We are delighted to welcome two new staff members to the church office at St Paul's.

Rachel Clover is joining us as our new Operations Manager. Many of you already

know Rachel as a member of our congregation, one of our team of servers, and a member of the Parochial Church Council.

However, in addition to being one of our own, Rachel brings extensive relevant experience from previous roles. Before moving to Bedford Rachel served as Head Verger and Estates Manager at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and before that was a Verger at Ely Cathedral.

Rachel will be working full-time in the Church Office, overseeing daily administration, responding to enquiries from members of the public, managing the church building's operations and maintenance, handling external hires, and providing bookkeeping and financial support.

Michele Swales joins us as our new part-time Administrative and Communications

Assistant. In this role, Michele will be responsible for producing our weekly pew sheets and e-newsletters, promoting events on social media and print media, and updating our website. She will also take over the administration of the lunchtime concerts and organ recitals and assist Rachel with other administrative tasks.

Like Rachel, Michele brings a wealth of relevant experience, having a background in publishing, where she ran her own publishing business and she currently serves as Churchwarden at St Andrew's Church, Bedford. Michelle has connections to St Paul's too: her parents were married and she was baptized in this church.

Please join us in welcoming Michele and Rachel to their new roles. Drop by and say hello when you next visit the church (Michele starts on 11th February and Rachel on 16th February, although for three weeks, Rachel will be balancing her new role at St Paul's with her current position at Bedford Hospital). You can contact both of them by email at office@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk or on 01234 340163

We are incredibly fortunate to have them both and look forward to the contributions they will make to God's mission and our ministry here in the centre of Bedford.