Who's who at Pusey House
The Principal
The Rev'd Dr George Westhaver joined Pusey House in August, 2013. He grew up near Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the East coast of Canada. He studied philosophy and anthropology at McGill University, Montreal, and International Development Studies at St Mary's University in Halifax. He then read for a Master of Divinity degree at Wycliffe College, one of the member colleges of the Toronto School of Theology.
After ordination in 1997 George served in Cherry Hinton with Teversham and in the Ramseys and Upwood (Diocese of Ely), before moving to Oxford as Chaplain of Lincoln College and Assistant Minister at St Michael at the North Gate. His last post was Rector of St George’s Round Church, Halifax, in Nova Scotia. George completed a PhD at the University of Durham under the supervision of Professor Andrew Louth, on E. B. Pusey’s unpublished lectures, ‘Types and Prophecies of the Old Testament’. His research interests include E. B. Pusey and the Oxford Movement, the allegorical interpretation of the Bible, and the artistic expression of Christian doctrine. George is married to Karen and they have two daughters, Clara and Charlotte. |
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The Chaplain
The Rev'd Mark Stafford joined Pusey House in September 2014. After graduating from Liverpool University in Modern Languages, and from National Circus Schools in Paris and Bristol, he spent the best part of a decade as a Circus Performer, before running away from the Circus to join the Church. Mark trained for Ordination at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and has served as Assistant Curate in the Parish of St. Barnabas and St. Paul, Jericho, and as Junior Chaplain at Merton College, since being ordained. Before coming to Oxford, Mark was the founder and Director of the Youth Charity 'redthread', and lists among his interests football, duelling weapons of the 18th Century, and Group Analytic Psychotherapy. He is currently part-way through an MA in one of these disciplines. He is married to Lizzie, who is a Research Nurse - they have two young children, and are both studying the effects of chronic sleeplessness on the human nervous system.
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Contact the Chaplain |
The Librarian
Jessica has worked in several Oxford University libraries as Assistant Librarian or Library Assistant. She is delighted to be joining Pusey House as Librarian, and very much looking forward to learning more about the collections.
She has a BA in French and Spanish from Keble College, Oxford, and an MA in Translation from the University of Surrey. Having completed the Bodleian Libraries’ Graduate Trainee Scheme, she is working towards a professional qualification in librarianship at the University of Aberystwyth, via distance learning. Outside work, she enjoys creative writing, reading, playing the piano, and knitting. |
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The Steward (Karen Westhaver)
Master of the Music
David Bannister In addition to his duties at Pusey House, David Bannister currently holds the post of Organist to the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford, where he accompanies the choir in daily sung services out of term.
He has served as Director of Music at St Peter’s Wolvercote (2011-16) where he was privileged to have been involved in the commissioning of a brand new pipe organ from Dorset based craftsman Robin Jennings. Following on from this he became Choir Director at St John’s College, Oxford, a post which he held for for the 2016-17 academic year.
As an organist, David has performed and recorded with a wide range of groups including, amongst others, The King’s Singers, and Charivari Agréable.
He is the Artistic Director of Vespri Segreti, a professional Oxford based vocal ensemble which exists to perform a wide range of early and contemporary repertoire.
David continues to study with Paul Spicer (choral conducting) and Stephen Farr (organ).
He has served as Director of Music at St Peter’s Wolvercote (2011-16) where he was privileged to have been involved in the commissioning of a brand new pipe organ from Dorset based craftsman Robin Jennings. Following on from this he became Choir Director at St John’s College, Oxford, a post which he held for for the 2016-17 academic year.
As an organist, David has performed and recorded with a wide range of groups including, amongst others, The King’s Singers, and Charivari Agréable.
He is the Artistic Director of Vespri Segreti, a professional Oxford based vocal ensemble which exists to perform a wide range of early and contemporary repertoire.
David continues to study with Paul Spicer (choral conducting) and Stephen Farr (organ).
Organist
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Laurence John is organist of Pusey House, a post which he combines with his role as senior organ scholar at The Queen’s College, Oxford.
Before coming to Oxford, he was organ scholar at Hereford Cathedral where he regularly accompanied the cathedral choir and helped with the training of the boy choristers. Laurence has worked as an organist, pianist and harpsichordist with a number of the country’s leading orchestras, including for a performance as the soloist in Saint-Saëns’s ‘Organ’ Symphony with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and has been the accompanist for tours to Belgium and America. |
Sacristan
Richard Keeble was born and raised in Harrow, North London. From 2014-2017 he studied Theology at King’s College London, graduating with first class honours and the Associate of King’s College. He was awarded the Plumptre Prize for English Literature, the Sellers Prize in Christian Doctrine and the Bishop Collins Memorial Prize for Church History. Reflecting on his Anglo-Catholic upbringing, Richard now hopes to explore the wealth of this tradition at Pusey House and test a vocation to the priesthood. In the role of Sacristan, he strives to preserve the beauty and unique character of worship at Pusey, whilst welcoming new people to the life of the House. His interests include sketching, films and ecclesiology.
Chapel Intern
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Jonathan Moore, though born in Bristol was brought up in the countryside in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. He has been a congregant of his Fathers churches in the Fownhope benefice for many years but since leaving 6th form College he moved to the Taize Community in France where he worked as their sacristan. When leaving France he moved back to Herefordshire to gain ministry experience as a Pastoral Assistant in Holmer. Currently he lives in Pusey House and is excited to gain more experience living in a Christian community.
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Chapel Intern
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James Mosher says: England is now home for me, but I was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada... which always be a special place for me. I served for 12 years in the Royal Canadian Navy. In that time, I was also ordained a Deacon and studied Theology at the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax. Before that, I also studied my undergraduate degree in History at King's College (Nova Scotia).
The Community here at Pusey continues to be a beautiful gift. Being able to live, work and worship here is a blessing. |
Chapel Intern
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Daniel Masters is no stranger to Oxford; he grew up in Headington, and in his spare time coaches tennis at his old primary school. He studied history and economics at Reading, and worked in London at the Treasury before coming here. He loves writing, and has experience with journalism and editing, bringing that meticulous work ethic to Pusey House. Daniel comes from an Evangelical background, and is excited to learn more about the Anglo-Catholic tradition.
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Project Cataloguer
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Philippa Taney started her working life in libraries across Oxford, predominantly in the Sackler and Taylorian libraries and more recently for the Bodleian Library after graduating from South Bank University with a degree in English Literature and Social Sciences. Her previous roles have been a mixture of technical services – supervising cataloguing, acquisitions and classifying – and reader services. With twenty years of experience behind her she is now looking forward to getting her teeth into an integrated role at Pusey House and finding out more about its fascinating collections and history.
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