Meet the Team

Staff Team

  • Lantern Vicar & Team Rector

    Mike is married to Michelle and they have three young children...and a dog!

    Mike is a Liverpool fan, loves sports, the outdoors and his happy place (other than on a Dorset beach with his family) is on a snowy mountain, with his snowboard strapped to his feet.

    Mike believes that choosing to follow Jesus is the best decision anyone could ever make and when the local church helps grow whole-life followers of Jesus, then communities can be transformed - and we have a lot of fun along the way!

    E: miket@thelanternchurch.org

  • Childrens & Families Pastor

    Ruth moved here from Portsmouth in 2010 with her husband, Perry and their 4 children. Ruth has led children's work for many years, including heading up 'Rock Solid' at New Wine and is passionate to see children and their parents connect with God.

    E: ruthg@thelanternchurch.org

  • Executive Officer

    Sarah has been part of The Lantern since 2008, and joined the staff team in 2015. She is married to Al and they have three children . With a background in hospitality management, she coordinates the large-scale events that take place at the Lantern.

    E: saraht@thelanternchurch.org

  • Operations and Projects Manager

    John joined the team in November 2020 and is passionate about helping organisations be the best they can be. John is married to Mandy and they have 3 grown up children as well as a young Cocker Spaniel. Hobby wise, after walking the dog, John can be found on a local golf course or surfing on Netflix.

    E: johnm@thelanternchurch.org

  • Worship & Creative Pastor

    Jamie joined the Lantern team in 2019. Moving here from Manchester, where he was living and working as a worship leader for four years. He is married to Beth and Dad to Ziggy and Ruby-Wild.

    He is passionate about creating space for people to encounter God, both inside and outside the Church, and pursues opportunities to see songs that point to the heart of God sang outside the four walls of the Church. As well as being Worship & Creative Pastor at the Lantern Jamie is a songwriter and recording artist.

    E: jamiep@thelanternchurch.org

    Music: https://linktr.ee/jamopritchard

  • Detached Youth Worker

    Skittles joined the Lantern team in 2022 and works as a detached youth-worker working with young people in the surrounding schools as well as lots of skate-based youth ministry. In his spare time Skittles loves to skate and to cook!

    E: skittles@thelanternchurch.org

  • Operations Assistant

    Emma joined the Lantern staff team in 2022, she has a history of working in ministry with children and adults and is passionate about playing her part in what God is doing here at the Lantern. She is married to Chris and they have two children that are a part of the Young Adults community at the Lantern.

    E: emmas@thelanternchurch.org

  • Youth Pastor

    Paula is married to Alex and has 5 children (and a dog!) and joined the Lantern back in 2021. Paula is passionate about helping young people become devoted followers of Jesus Christ, and carries a deep pastoral heart for our youth.

    Paula loves going on adventures with the family and hanging out at the beach.

    e: paulah@thelanternchurch.org

Church Wardens

  • Church Warden

    Bex is married to Damian and has 3 children and a dog, Bex is passionate about the Church and it being a place of creativity and freedom, and helping people to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

    E: rhuntingford@thelanternchurch.org

  • Church Warden

    Peter is married to Jenny and they have three grown up children. They lead a Life Group and Peter has a passion for seeing men come to know Jesus and oversees our men’s events. Despite being known for finding DIY a challenge, Peter has been on several mission trips to Romania supporting more skilled volunteers building homes for impoverished Roma communities. He is Treasurer of Mission to Romania, a joint charity across the three churches in our parish.

    e: powen@thelanternchurch.org

Sub Commitee

  • Sub Committee Member

    Barbara and her husband, Bill, have been at the Lantern for over 30 years. In the past she was involved in children's work both with toddlers and Tots church. 2020 brought new challenges for everyone, having to develop new ways of working. Barbara made the decision to cut back on her involvement with hands on children’s work and has become one of the safeguarding leads for the parish.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Ian is married to Lyn, have they been members of the Lantern Church since 1986 and have two sons, Jamie and Paul. Ian has recently changed his job and now works full-time for the UK Government as a newly qualified retiree! He has always enjoyed singing, is passionate about worship and has been involved in the worship team at the Lantern since 2004, and is honoured to be working with the sub committee team as we seek God’s direction for the future of our church.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Katie is a part-time teacher, mum of teenage twins and wife of Kevin. She loves wild places, wild weather and frequently has wild hair (according to her kids)! Baking is a hobby of hers and she runs the small Five Loaves Community Bakery which seeks to encourage anyone who’s feeling a bit lonely, low or lost by teaching them how to make bread. She treasures the way The Lantern seeks to follow Jesus by caring for and loving others.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Nick and his wife Janet have attended the Lantern since 2014 and enjoy the vibrancy of the Jesus centred community. He chairs and manages the Lantern Mission Group and is responsible for the upkeep of our buildings. Otherwise, singing and sailing are Nick's favourite activities.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Ali Hobson is a local to Wimborne and became a Christian at The Lantern some 36 years ago. She loves the beach, fast cars, music, Guinness and gardening. She left her Community Nursing job to complete a degree in Theology and now works as a writer. She lives with her lovely husband who she also met at The Lantern some 36 years ago! She is passionate about Jesus and loves to see Him heal people to make them whole and happy.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Al is husband to Sarah and teaches Chemistry at Canford School just round the corner. He is proudly and evangelistically in-tune with his inner geek and has a penchant for all things technical; he supports the church office in this area as well as serving on the tech and worship teams. Al also currently serves on the PCC, and is the Data Protection representative for the 3 churches of the parish. During lockdown he reacquainted himself with cycling, but has yet to have had enough of a midlife crisis to have specifically bought any Lycra.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Maria is married to Richard. They have three grown up children. She has been part of the Lantern community for over 30 years.

    Originally from Sweden Maria has a degree in theology, she also sits on Canford Magna PCC. She recharges her batteries by socialising, spending time with her family, cycling and, when possible, skiing down beautiful mountains.

    Maria is co-founder of Marriage Week which began in the UK and is now active in 30 different nations.

  • Sub Committee Member

    Fiona is married to Nathan and they are parents to two teenage children. They lead a Growth Group together and Fiona also represents the Diocese of Salisbury on the General Synod, House of Laity. She loves the outdoors, especially mountains, and enjoys nothing more than setting off on walking, cycling or camping adventures. She is passionate about discipleship and helps to support the church in carrying out it's commission to care for the world as leader of the Creation Care team.