People
Clergy
Vacancy
Rector
Fr Jason Hobbs
Assistant Priest
I was born in Consett, in County Durham, and grew up 7 miles away in Stanley. I initially trained as an Industrial Chemist but then retrained as a Music Teacher. I have worked with children with additional support needs since 2000 and now work at Hazlehead Academy.
I was ordained Priest in St Mary’s in 2013 and have been the Assistant Priest since then. It has been an honour and a joy to be part of the St Mary’s family through good times and bad.
I’ve been doing a lot to support other Charges in the Diocese over the last few years and I’m currently on long term loan to St Clements.
My interests include playing the church organ, walking, reading and watching old movies, preferably in black and white.
Fr Roger Dyer
Assistant Priest
My hometown is Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset. I trained in the construction industry, but it quickly became clear that I should be working with people rather than concrete and steel. For several years I tried to ignore the horrifying thought that God wanted me to be a vicar. But it wouldn’t go away! I started ordination training in 1983 and after ordination served for 23 years in Rochester and Durham Dioceses.
More recently I was a full-time Carer and not active in a public Christian role. I was delighted to be commissioned by Bishop Anne as Assistant Priest at St Mary’s in January 2022. From 1 January 2023 I am ‘on loan’ as Interim Priest at St John the Evangelist, Aberdeen until such as they appoint their new Rector.
My interests include:- Watching sport (rugby, golf, football, cricket, etc. etc!). Being in the open (walking, birdwatching, playing golf, currently working through the list of Aberdeenshire stone circles). A meal with friends (company, conversation, laughter).
Office Holders
John Cooke
Rector’s Warden
I was born and grew up in Lancashire, and have lived in East Anglia, SE England, and Edinburgh, moving to Aberdeen in 2013.
A history graduate from Cambridge, I’ve worked in pharmaceuticals, banking, and telecommunications. Today, I’m an Aberdeen City Councillor, representing the Hazlehead/Queen’s Cross/Countesswells Ward, which covers St Mary’s, and also help my wife who runs her own media and communications company.
I first came to St Mary’s simply because it was the closest Episcopalian Church, but was immediately made to feel welcome. I like the style of worship, as it’s similar to what I grew up with – my father was an Anglican priest. My wife Erikka and I had our wedding blessing at St Mary’s in 2014. I have two grown-up children, Anna and Oliver, both of whom work in London.
I’m on the Council of the Friends of the Gordon Highlanders Museum, partly due to an interest in military history, but more importantly because my paternal grandfather served in the regiment. I’m mildly obsessive about Scotland Rugby, Manchester United, and Partick Thistle, the latter an inheritance from my other, Glaswegian, grandfather. I’m a Gaelic learner, and also enjoy quizzes.
Photograph by Carol Graham
Iain Stewart
People’s Warden and Alternative Lay Representative
I’m a born and bred Aberdonian and after leaving Northfield Academy, started working for the TSB. After almost 35 years, I am still there! I was baptised into the Church of Scotland at Torry Church where my father was an elder. I remember going with my Gran on Sundays where she would pass me pan drops to keep me happy.
Like a lot of young people, I grew distant from the church, and it was only when I was working on a project for the Bank and based in Gloucester that it called me back. My ‘St Paul’ moment was on Ash Wednesday 2018 when I went up for a Blessing and somehow, I felt I belonged and was starting on a new journey. When I came back to Aberdeen, I decided to worship at St Andrew’s where I met Bishop Anne, who encouraged and guided me, leading to her confirming me on Easter Sunday 2019. With St Andrew’s temporary closure, I came to St Mary’s where I have found a new friendly and welcoming spiritual home.
In my spare time I enjoy classical music and regularly attend concerts. I also love to travel and visit new and strange places. A current passion is church architecture and I’m currently trying to visit all the Wren Churches in London.
Lydia Ross
Vestry Treasurer
I was born in the north of England but moved to Scotland as a child and first came to St Mary’s with my family when we moved to Aberdeen in the late 1970’s. I have been a regular member now for around 30 years and was part of the Sunday School team for many years, beginning when my children were young.
After studying modern languages at university, I changed direction to qualify as a chartered accountant and have been Treasurer of St Mary’s since 2007, looking after all aspects of church finances and reporting to the Vestry and regulatory authorities.
My interest in languages continues along with classical music, theatre and spending time outdoors.
Photograph by Elizabeth Mills
David Rose
Vestry Secretary and Webmaster
I was born in Aberdeen but spent my early childhood in Wiltshire. The family returned to Aberdeen in time for an interesting secondary education at Northfield Academy. I went on to study at the University of Stirling, gaining a degree in Management Economics. After a gap year I was lucky enough to gain a Shell scholarship to study for a Masters in the Economics of Natural Resources at the University of Aberdeen.
My first professional job came about through an invitation to work as a Research Assistant with Professor Alex Kemp on the economics of petroleum taxation. After six years as a research economist, Professor Kemp and I started up a university company to commercialise the research work. I retired as Director of Aupec Limited at end of 2018 having successfully led the company for over 32 years.
My wife, Gillian, brought me to St Mary’s over 30 years ago before we were married, and I’ve attending ever since. I’m a member of two of St Mary’s committees: the Fundraising & Social Group and the Buildings Committee. I’ve been a member of the server team for about 15 years. I enjoy the fellowship of St Mary’s and like to contribute my skills when and where I can.In retirement I enjoy road and mountain biking, travelling, listening to music and being in the company of family and friends.
Photograph by Elizabeth Mills
Graham Thomson
Protection of Vulnerable Groups Officer
I am originally from The Lothians but grew up in Luxemburg. I moved to Aberdeen in 2006 to do my teacher training and stayed in the city to work as a physics and science teacher. I started coming to St Mary’s in 2007 when I moved into the area. Though I have since moved slightly further away, I keep coming because I like the style of worship and the variety of people I have met in my time here.
I am the safeguarding officer at St Mary’s and if you have any concerns about anyone’s wellbeing, no matter how minor, I would appreciate it if you could get in touch.
Photograph by Elizabeth Mills
Nicola Mills
Lay Representative
I’ve been attending St. Mary’s for nearly twenty years, and love being part of the church community. We moved to Aberdeen from Sussex having previously lived in Edinburgh, and I’m a freelance archivist and writer. I have been the lay representative for around 18 years. This role means I represent St. Mary’s congregation at diocesan synod and some other diocesan events. Based on this, I also represent the diocese at General Synod and on Faith & Order Board. I very much enjoy the chance to meet members of the broader Episcopal family across Scotland and to see how the church functions nationally. Outside church I enjoy woolwork and netball.
Photograph by Carol Graham
Ordinary Vestry Members
Allison Brown
Ordinary Vestry Member
I have been attending St Mary’s for nearly three years. I’d tried other churches but have never felt as warm a welcome as I did when I first attended St Mary’s, and I felt I’d come home.
I joined the choir in November 2023, a role I very much enjoy. In 2024 I came on to the Vestry.
Julia House
Ordinary Vestry Member
I was born within sound of Bow Bells in Guy’s Hospital where both my parents trained as Nurse and Doctor. My Dad was a surgical trainee, so we moved many times for his posts at different hospitals through my childhood. We eventually settled in Guildford, but my marriage to a chemical engineer meant that I continued to move both for my medical jobs and then for my husband’s work. I was lucky enough to be able to continue to work as a doctor on both our postings to Vietnam and to Singapore. I had trained at St Thomas’ Hospital, the rival to Guy’s to show I was not simply following in my father’s footsteps! My vocation as a doctor has been very important to me and my hobbies of singing, walking and more recently sea swimming have given me great joy.
We moved to Aberdeen in 1998 and so I can safely say this is the longest I’ve lived anywhere. Both our daughters attended school here since they were small and feel their roots are in Aberdeen. Throughout all these moves I have been able to attend churches of all varieties, all over the world, but I was confirmed and married in Holy Trinity Church, Guildford and held a memorial for my Father there this year. St Mary’s has welcomed us more recently, and I hope to be able to help it to blossom and grow along with the other city churches of Aberdeen.
Athol Jermieson
Ordinary Vestry Member
Flew to London, first time in a plane, for an interview with a shipping and trading company and was in the Persian Gulf five weeks later where I worked as a shipping agent in harbours and tanker terminals for two years. Decided to work offshore in the North Sea where I spent thirty-five years. Worked for several companies and had several jobs but mostly as a deck foreman, HLO, crane operator. Stopped working sixteen years ago because of spinal issues which meant I couldn’t pass a medical.
Brought up in the Church of Scotland, became involved with S.E.C. as a summer steward volunteer at St. Andrew’s Cathedral while still working, then a “Piskie”, then a server at St. Andrew’s. Jumped ship after Covid to St. Mary’s. Enjoyed my working life which always suited me and equally enjoy not working.
Ordinary Vestry Members and Other Church Roles
Erikka Askeland
Ordinary Vestry Member
I’ve lived in Manchester, Edinburgh and now Aberdeen since 2013.
My husband John and I had our marriage blessed at a lovely ceremony at St Mary’s in 2014. Since then, I have been attending services more regularly, including at the Wonderful (that is both its name and an apt description) forest church. I found a warm welcome at the regular events at St Mary’s such as the quiz and wine and cheese nights. They also offered me a space to return to faith that is inclusive and empowers women.
I am a journalist with DC Thomson specialising in the energy industry. When I’m not writing or podcasting about offshore wind and the rest, I enjoy reading, doing yoga, travelling, socialising and taking the occasional dip in the North Sea.
Anne Farquhar
Sacristan
I was baptised at St Mary’s on the 18/10/1959. While growing up in the church there were lots of families and young children, so it was and still is a very friendly church. As I grew older and was confirmed I joined the choir along with my father and brother. As a teenager I rebelled, but as Canon Alexander said “she comes to all the festivals“, so I think I got away with it.
On the 15/10/1988 I got married at St Mary’s.
I came back to the church properly when my mother was ill and was asked to be a server. The sacristan at the time, Mary, taught me her role so I could cover her holidays. When Mary left, I was approached and asked if I would take on the role of sacristan to which I agreed. My role is about to be more challenging now that we are Pro-Cathedral, but I have lots of support from Father Terry, Father Isaac, and the servers from both churches.