Matt Rowland
Rector
Matt is married to Louise, a nurse, and they have three children. He became a Christian through the witness of his parents and youth leaders. Before his ordination, Matt worked as a history teacher. He trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and began his ordained ministry as a Curate at St Leonard’s, Exeter. He later served as Vicar of five rural parishes around Modbury in the South Hams of Devon for just over seven years before returning to St Leonard’s as Rector.
Chris Keane
Associate Rector
Chris is married to Elinor, a Classics teacher, and they have three children. He is very thankful to have grown up in a churchgoing family, and during his time at university came to a living faith in Jesus. After studying Computer Science and working in IT for a few years, Chris trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford and was a curate in Basingstoke. He came to St Leonard’s in 2011 and, among other things, oversees our student ministry.
Luke Markham
Youth & Families Minister
Luke grew up part of church and is grateful to his parents for helping him to know Jesus from a young age. During his early teens he came to understand God’s love and forgiveness for himself which marked a turning point in his life. Luke works primarily with the 11-18s and their families since arriving at St Leonard’s in 2024. He is most excited about helping people hear God speak through His Word, and loves getting to spend time with teenagers through all the ups and downs of those years. Luke and Miri first met and got together at their church youth group (!) and now have three children after getting married in 2016. Luke enjoys a good debate with friends, reading, and eating anything savoury, and so is currently learning how to ‘enjoy’ exercise as a result.
Ruth Clarke
Children & Families Minister
Ruth grew up in a churchgoing family and, by God’s grace, can’t remember a time when she didn’t know Jesus as her Saviour. She has been part of the St Leonard’s Church family since arriving in Exeter as a student in 2003. After graduating, Ruth worked as a Ministry Assistant at St Leonard’s for a year before training as a primary school teacher. In 2019 she began working full time with the under 11s and their families at St Leonard’s Church and has continued to build on our strong links with St Leonard’s Primary School.
Paul Gardner
Assistant Minister (retired)
Paul is married to Sharon, a teacher and artist. They have three married children and seven grandchildren. They love hiking on Dartmoor. Paul lectured at Oak Hill College becoming Vicar of Hartford, Cheshire. Later, after two years as Archdeacon in Exeter, he moved to pastor a church in Atlanta, USA. In 2017 he and Sharon retired to Exeter. Now Paul continues to preach and teach wherever he is needed, both here and in other countries.
Mel Mullen
Ministry Support Administrator
Mel has 2 grown up children and is married to Nick, a nurse at the local hospital. Mel came to know Jesus at her church youth group and school Christian Union, when she realised she needed to decide for herself who Jesus really is. Mel works in the office three days a week organising Sundays and much more.
Gill Steele
Safeguarding & Bookings Administrator
Gill is married to Robert and has two grown up children and two granddaughters. Gill grew up in a God-believing farming family, on the National Trust’s Killerton Estate just outside Broadclyst. She came to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour at the age of ten after attending a tent campaign in the village of Dulverton and was baptised by full immersion at the age of 12 at Cullompton Gospel Hall. Gill has been attending St Leonard’s since 2020, and helps on a Sunday morning with the Explorers group for 3 to 7 year old children. Gill works in the church office for 12 hours a week as the Safeguarding and Bookings Administrator.
Paul Douglas
Churchwarden
Paul grew up on the edges of church and became a Christian just after taking his GCSE’s. Two years later he came to Exeter as a student and now works in finance for the NHS. Since joining St Leonards in 2021 he has enjoyed getting involved with a number of different areas of church life. He can often be found serving teas after a Sunday service, in bible studies or out as a street pastor on a Saturday night. Paul loves to explore, is also a history and theology nerd, plays a few sports and cannot live without ice cream.
Alfredda Lake
Churchwarden
Alfredda says: I became a Christian in my 20s, accepting Jesus’ invitation to take up the cross and follow him. In all the ups and downs of life, it is the Lord’s love, forgiveness, grace and faithfulness together with the support of loving, prayerful Christian friends that has kept me following. One of my favourite definitions of a Christian: ‘One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread’. I am married to Pete, and we have 2 sons, a cat and a dog.