Our People

SWMTC employs a highly talented staff of academics, experienced practitioners and creative thinkers. See also below for information about SWMTC governance and trustees.

Staff

Principal:  Revd Dr Lucy Larkin

Rev Dr Lucy Larkin has latterly been the IME Phase 2 Officer for the Diocese of Truro and was previously on the teaching staff at SWMTC.  She will take on the role of Interim Principal for 13 months, as the Diocese of Exeter and Truro review their provision of training and formation.   Lucy studied Theology at the University of Birmingham gaining, over the years, a BA, M Phil, and PhD, the latter two in the area of Ecotheology.  She has a PGCE from Westminster College in Oxford and has taught Religious Education.  Lucy has lived a large part of her adult life in Adelaide, South Australia and was ordained deacon in 2008 and priest in 2009 in the Anglican Church of Australia. She served her curacy in Adelaide and was part of the clergy team at St Peter’s Cathedral in that city.  She also taught ordinands at St Barnabas’ Theological College, Adelaide.  She has had various roles in the diocese of Truro within the Ministry Team.  A recent passion has been the value of Pastoral Supervision in ministerial life.  Lucy lives in Truro, Cornwall with her husband Jonathan.  They have three young adult children.

Vice Principal: Revd Dr Dominic Cyrus

After gaining a BSc in civil engineering and working as a site engineer, Dominic followed his passion for theology and ministry. He completed his second BA in ‘Bible and Theology’ and MA in ‘Theology and Hermeneutics’. Dominic trained for ordained ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge whilst completing a PhD in Systematic Theology at King’s College, London. He served his curacy in a deprived Black Country parish in the West Midlands. He has significant experience in teaching theology and giving seminars and papers at various levels and contexts in the UK and Europe.

Cherryl Hunt

Academic Registrar: Dr Cherryl Hunt

The Academic Registrar oversees SWMTC’s academic programmes and is the person to contact if you have any questions about studying with us.  Cherryl Hunt has PhDs in cell biology and theology. As well as being part-time Academic Registrar for SWMTC she pursues research interests into how ordinary modern Christians might better engage their ancient scriptures. Her other interests and teaching include the letters of Paul, and how the Bible is used in ethical debate, especially around scientific topics such as the environment, and the status of the early human embryo.

Kim Mathers

Director of Phase 2 Officer for Exeter: Revd Preb Kim Mathers

Kim has responsibility for Phase 2 of clergy training in the Diocese of Exeter & is also a part-time Team Vicar in the Sid Valley Mission Community.  Kim Mathers studied law at Southampton University then theology in London and Bristol. She was among the first women to be priested in 1994, and worked in parishes in the diocese of Winchester, Bristol and Rochester before coming to the Diocese of Exeter in 2004. Before joining SWMTC, Kim was Team Rector of a benefice of eleven rural churches in North Devon, during which time she gained valuable experience as a training incumbent for a number of curates and as a Training Minister to Ordinands.

Sue Sheppard

Staff Tutor for Devon: Revd Preb Sue Sheppard

Staff Tutors have day-to-day oversight of students and candidates living in their geographical areas, and lead their tutor group. Sue is also a part-time Assistant Priest for the Whiddon Mission Community.  Sue Sheppard has a BA in History from the University of Exeter and a PGCE from Durham University. She trained with SWMTC 1995-1998, gaining an MA in Theology from the University of Exeter. She was ordained Priest in 1999, and became chaplain of St Peter’s Church of England High School in Exeter. She joined the staff of SWMTC in 2005. After a spell as Acting Principal in 2008, she was appointed Director of the Initial Ministerial Education Phases 1-3 programme. She is also Director of the Durham University (Common Awards) Module, Brief Introduction to Church History. 

Staff Tutor for Cornwall: Canon Nigel Marns

Nigel studied History & Politics at Aberystwyth, worked as a Health Service Manager in London before training at Queen’s College Birmingham and completing a Bachelor of Divinity. Nigel has been a priest for 26 years, working four very different contexts. Nigel’s curacy was in suburban South London in the Southwark Diocese, moving to Lichfield and inner city West Bromwich and town centre ministry in Bromsgrove in Worcester where he completed his MA in the History of Christianity at Birmingham University. Nigel moved to Truro in 2009 and currently serves as Rector of four rural parishes in Mounts Bay near Penzance. As well as relishing supporting SWMTC students, Nigel has written a book and developed a Pilgrimage Routes through Cornwall, The Cornish Celtic Way, opening up 23 churches and halls accommodating pilgrims. He is married with two adult children, has a dog and two chickens and is interested in New Testament, Church History, contextual and Celtic Spirituality, green and world development issues.

Director of Reader Training for Cornwall: Dr John Iervins

Bio to follow

Lisa

Programmes Coordinator and Administrator: Lisa Coupland

Lisa trained with SWMTC and was ordained in June 2022.  She now serves as Associated Curate for the Meneage Benefice and Kerrier Deanery in Truro Diocese, alongside her current role here at SWMTC.  Lisa’s working life began as a laboratory technician before moving into the business side of sales and marketing within the pharmaceutical industry.  She then moved to Nova Scotia in Canada with her husband and children, where they lived for three years.  On her return to the U.K., she returned for a short time to the pharmaceutical industry, before taking up a management position in the health sector.  Lisa is a lover of animals, particularly dogs and horses.  A keen horsewoman she can often be seen at horse shows throughout the West country with her ponies.

Joan2

Academic Administrator: Joan Ridgway

The Academic Administrator works with the Academic Registrar to ensure SWMTC’s programmes are well organised and student records are up-to-date.

Chaplains

Chaplains to Ordinands & Readers at residential weekends: Revd Juliet Horwood, Revd Sandra Gill & Richard Frost.

Other staff

We have a number of other specialist staff who teach on evening classes, at residential weekends, study days and curate events. We are also supported by dedicated volunteer staff who serve as teachers, personal tutors, and spouse accompaniers.

Governance

The South West Ministry Training Course is a company limited by guarantee (company number 3070559 and registered charity number 1056606).

Trustees:

  • The Rt Revd Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter
  • The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro
  • The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St German (Acting Chair)
  • Revd Dr Mark Butchers
  • Revd Canon Professor Morwenna Ludlow
  • Dr Jon Curtis
  • Charles Mills
  • Hamish Adam
  • Revd Elly Sheard
  • Revd Preb Philip Sourbut
  • Rachel Mitchell
  • Sally Piper

Special advisors to the trustees:

  • Revd Prof Andrew Lewis
  • Revd Preb Gina Radford
  • Ben de Cruz
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