About

The Rev'd Christine Blackman

Associate Priest

Christine first arrived in Reading in the late 1970s as a Chemistry student at the University. Ever since graduating, she taught science in the same classroom in a Comprehensive School in Abingdon, until her retirement in summer 2017. She trained for the priesthood at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained as a deacon in 1991, and as a Priest in 1994.  As well as presiding and preaching at St Bart’s, Christine makes sure that Sunday Club at St Luke’s is the most fun you can have on a Sunday morning!

The Rev'd Francis Jakeman

Associate Priest

Francis is a retired Vicar, and has been a priest for forty years. Having moved to Reading with his wife, Hilary, they can often be found in the Toddler Group in the Church Hall on Wednesday mornings. He is passionate about issues of social justice, and works closely with Embrace, a Christian development charity in the Middle East.

Jane Kenyon

Church Warden

Jane Kenyon
Hall Manager
Jane has been part of the congregation at St Bart’s and a Churchwarden for many years and has enjoyed working with the group to transform the Church into a performing arts venue.

Jane had designed a Healing Garden for the grassed at the front of the church which we hope will be of benefit to the whole community.  Planting has started (Spring 2023) and we look forward to the space being transformed over the coming months.

Sarah Collins

Parish Administrator

Sarah works in the Parish Office at St Luke’s Tuesday to Thursday mornings, supporting the ministry and mission of the Parish. She is a huge sports fan, and travels the length and breadth of the country following Reading FC.