Parish of Manuka South Canberra
Clergy & Staff
RECTOR OF MANUKA (Parish Priest)
The Reverend Ben Edwards
BA(Hons); LLB(Hons); BTh; PhD; GDLP;
Grad Cert LBS; CMusA; AMusA
Ben has been rector of Manuka since late 2018. Ordained in 2004, he has held appointments in urban, regional and rural parishes and educational institutions. He has also been a diocesan historian, area dean, cathedral canon, member of council of Burgmann College of the Australian National University and a Visiting Fellow in the Centre for Advanced Religious and Theological Studies within the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge (2009-10) while resident at Westcott House, Cambridge.
Ben’s PhD is in socio-religious history and he has a university medal in Law. Liturgical worship lies at the heart of his ministry and spirituality. His great passion in ministry is to synthesise the riches of the Church’s heritage with the creativity and insights of today, and for building community through hospitality.
THE VENERABLE JOHN GIBSON
ThL; Dip R.E.
John was a parishioner here St Paul’s when he entered St Johns Theological College in 1965. His roots go back to Northern Ireland where he was born in 1942 at Ballymoney, County Antrim. He married Narelle at St John the Baptist Church, Canberra in 1970 and they have two married sons, two delightful daughters in law and five grandchildren.
On retirement from fulltime ministry John and his wife Narelle returned to Canberra in 2007 and to St Paul’s, where he continues to serve as an hon Associate Priest which has been interspersed with locums in the parishes of Kaleen/Giralang, St John’s Wagga Wagga, Deakin and three times at St Paul’s.
THE REVEREND FIONA COCHAUD
BA (Hons); LL.B; MA; M.Phil.; Grad.Dip.Th; Grad.Dip.Pastoral Counselling
Fiona was made a deacon at St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn in February 2025. She has served at St Paul’s in many capacities since 2013: singing in St Paul’s Choir, serving in the sanctuary team and as Parish Councillor and Warden (2021-25).
She completed a full EfM (Exploring Faith Matters/Education for Ministry) course in 2021 and acted as co-mentor in 2022.
Fiona retired after 32 years in the Australian Public Service to take up full-time ministry as Assistant Curate. She is currently completing further theological and ministry studies at St Mark’s National Theological Centre.
THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN STEAD
BEd; BTh
John studied for his Bachelor of Theology at St. Mark’s National Theological Centre, Canberra. He was ordained Deacon in 1995 and Priest in 1996 and served his curacy at St. Saviour’s Cathedral in Goulburn and was also the half-time chaplain at the Goulburn Correctional Centre and Warden of Wollondilly Retirement Village. He subsequently ministered in Tumbarumba/Batlow (South-West Slopes Ministry District), Hackett in the ACT, and at St John’s Wagga Wagga as Archdeacon for Continuing Ministry Development. He was recently awarded a Master of Ministry (CSU School of Theology) focussing on Supervision.
Prior to ordination, he had trained as a Primary School Teacher, receiving a BTh from what was then the Canberra College of Advanced Education, now the University of Canberra. He concluded his teaching career in the Act as Principal of Tharwa Primary School.
John was consecrated Bishop in August 2009 and served as the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst; this included the role of Ministry Development Officer and Principal of the Company of the Good Shepherd. In 2012, he was elected Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Willochra, which encompasses 90% of South Australia. On 2 July 2022, he ‘laid up’ the Pastoral Staff of the Diocese and retired to Canberra. John offers Professional (Pastoral) Supervision to clergy.
John has recently returned to acting, an interest of his which he pursued in his teens and twenties.
THE REVEREND ELAINE FARMER
The Reverend Elaine Farmer
BTh; MTh
Elaine was ordained a priest in 1993, among the earliest women ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Australia. She has served in several parishes, taught homiletics and ministry formation, and been Associate Editor of St Mark’s Review, Australia’s oldest theological journal. She also served on the Council of St Andrew’s College, Sydney University, and is a Fellow of that College.
A book of her sermons, (Australasian Theological Forum 2006) was translated into Bahasa Indonesia by the Jesuits and given episcopal and . She was also a contributor to, a book on preaching and worship also published by the Australasian Theological Forum.
THE REVEREND JASON WRIGHT
BTH; MMDS
Rev’d Jason Wright, currently the Principal Chaplain and Director General Chaplaincy – Navy, is a cradle Anglican having grown up in the Anglican Church in the Parish of Yarrawonga, Diocese of Wangaratta. Rev’d Jason enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1997 as a Recruit Combat Systems Operator and served in HMAS Darwin and at HMAS Stirling. After his time in the Navy, he pursued a calling to the Anglican Priesthood and began his training as a Royal Australian Navy Chaplain. In January 2003, he was selected for the Chaplain In-service Training Scheme and was ordained as a Deacon in September 2004 and Priest in December 2005. Following his ordination, he completed field placements in Kwinana and Applecross before being commissioned as a Chaplain and posted to HMAS Cerberus.
With a broad range of experience in various postings, Rev’d Jason has served at HMA Ships Stirling, Cerberus, and Kuttabul, and in the RAN Initial Training Faculty. He has been at sea aboard HMAS Darwin (1998-2001, 2013-2014) and HMAS Parramatta (2009-2011), and served as Staff and Training Chaplain to the Director General Chaplaincy – Navy. Additionally, he held roles as Senior Coordinating Chaplain for the Middle East Region (HQ JTF633 J08), Director Fleet Chaplaincy, and Command Chaplain Joint Operations Command. In December 2024, he was promoted to Principal Chaplain and appointed Director General Chaplaincy – Navy.
Rev’d Jason has also been involved in several operational postings, including INTERFET, Operations Warden, Vic Bushfire Assist, Operations Slipper, Manitou, Accordion, Highroad, and Okra. He is a Military Fellow of the Australian War College, having completed the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2018 and the Defence Strategic Studies Course in 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Theology from Murdoch University, a Master of Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University, and a Master of National Security and Strategy from Deakin University.
Rev’d Jason enjoys spending time with his family, Australian Rules Football and Rugby League, and—as a family—all things Star Wars
ASSOCIATE CLERGY
THE REVEREND CANON PAUL BLACK ThDip; DipMin.
THE REVEREND SANDIE KAINE JP BTh; LLM
THE REVEREND GAYL MILLS OAM DipMedLabTech; Grad Cert Diaconal St; Grad Dip Pastoral Counselling; BTh
THE REVEREND DR JANE FOULCHER BA(Hons) Grad Dip Div PhD
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Matthew Stuckings: Director of Music matthew.stuckings@gmail.com
Organists: Christopher Erskine, Mary Anne Neilsen, James Porteous
Junior Choir Director: Kate Edwards juniorchoir@stpaulsmanuka.org.au
Prep Choir Director: Alison Waddell
CHILDREN & YOUTH WORK
Sunday School: Belinda Leslie
belinda@stpaulsmanuka.org.au
Youth: Harriet Allen
ADMINISTRATION
Parish Office Team: office@stpaulsmanuka.org.au
Parish Executive Officer: Joseph Neilson
CHURCH WARDENS
Parish Wardens: Bruce Glendinning, Greg Mills, Fiona Cochaud
Email: wardens@stpaulsmanuka.org.au
St David’s Red Hill Wardens: Lorraine Litster, Duncan Anderson, Robert Goodrick
Email: stdavids@stpaulsmanuka.org.au
Treasurer – Duncan Anderson
Email: treasurer@stpaulsmanuka.org.au