St Matthew's Church. Wood Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, United Kingdom LS7 3QF
07484 635886 revsijones@outlook.com or stmatthewschurch1900@gmail.com
Touch Here to Give
And
Thank YOU in Advance
Verger
Brenda Rowland
Brenda Rowland is the Church Verger; she helps set up for the Sunday Communion service and also clears away after the service. She also meets and greets people at the door, and guides them to the pews.
She also officiates at Weddings and Funerals.
At Weddings she greets the Bride at the door, helps to calm the nerves, and gives words of encouragement.
She is also a member of the Flower Ladies Team, so could have helped to create the display for your wedding.
Funerals she will greet the family and mourners handing out order of service sheets and then clear up after everyone has left.
Churchwarden
Fred Rowland
Fred has been a long standing member of St. Matthew' Church, and as such held the post of Churchwarden for over twenty years. He stepped down in 2017 but has now stepped back and also inherited the role of Fabric and maintenance officer. So when thing's go wrong with the building he is called upon to find a solution to remedy the problem. His wife Brenda is also the verger at St Matthew's which makes Fred the deputy assistant verger whether he likes it or not...
Churchwarden
Colin Powell
Colin has been a parishioner at St Matthew's since 2016. He was Deputy Warden for six years and has been Churchwarden since 2023. Colin has responsibility for: Health and Safety, Safeguarding and is the Electoral Roll Officer. Colin is also the Lead for the Church Service Team. Colin has two grandchildren at the nearby St Matthew's School where he was a Governor for seven years but is now retired from that role. Colin enjoys playing an active part in the spiritual and pastoral life of the Church family at St. Matthews.
Colin has many interests outside his role at Church. He has been happily married since 1980 and enjoys supporting his family. He holds a master’s degree in art and has a studio where he regularly paints. He is a keen photographer and film maker too. His favourite pastime is his model railway. Colin likes to keep fit and enjoys playing table tennis and chess. Colin is originally from Portsmouth and has lived in Leeds since 1990.
Church Treasurer
Ellie Chapman-Jestico
Ellie has lived in Chapel Allerton and worshipped at St Matthew’s since early 2023. She is married to Miranda, and their daughter Pippa was baptised here in 2024.
Ellie has a Master’s degree in Maths and Philosophy, and before training to become a midwife, worked in a finance administration role at a London university. Ellie felt well equipped to take on the role of Treasurer when a new volunteer was called for: she is the daughter of two ex-church treasurers and as a child was always keen to help count the church money when needed! She has since learned there is much more to the role…
Ellie can be contacted on: stmca.treasurer@gmail.com
Director of Music
Aljosa Skorja
Aljoša (Josh) Škorja has been Director of Music at St Matthew’s since 2012. Alongside his work at St Matthew’s, he is Music Director of Halifax Chamber Choir and Pontefract Choral Society, and has worked widely with choirs and orchestras in the UK and internationally.
Josh trained as a conductor at the Royal Northern College of Music and also holds degrees in Church Music and Musicology from the University of Ljubljana. He has worked with professional ensembles including Manchester Camerata, London Classical Soloists and RTV Symphony Orchestra (Slovenia), and won the London Classical Soloists Conducting Competition.
At St Matthew’s, Josh leads the Church’s choral programme across both the Sunday Choir and the Extra Choir. His approach combines strong musical standards with a warm, inclusive culture, supporting worship while offering singers a place to grow musically and, for those who wish, to explore faith through singing.
Scout Leader
Richard Trout
Richard started at St Matthew's Scout Group back in 2008 and with a team helped to form a new section for Scouts, to give our Beavers and Cubs the next step in Scouting.
He loves being able to give young people the life skills and experiences that they will never forget, and as an adult where else can you have so much fun teaching young people how to set fires, climb rocks, sleep under the stars, cook on open fires, to name a few.