The Vicar
Revd. Cllr James Allison Bsc BA was born in Shipley, Yorkshire. James is married to Catherine and they have three children.He studied Biology at Manchester University then went on to study Theology at Oak Hill Theological College, London. He worked as a Parish Assistant on leaving university at Brunswick, Manchester and was a curate in Walkden in North Manchester. Before coming to Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale in 1997 he was Chaplain of Huddersfield University. Whilst at Huddersfield he helped create with Tim Sledge "Sanctuary", an early Alternative Worship Service. James is currently Rural Dean of Calder Valley, he is a member of Hebden Royd Town Council and two years ago he was Mayor. He is also a Director of the following not for profit companies, Royd Regeneration, UCVR, Elmet Trust and Hebden Royd Partnership. He is also Chair of the Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. James's main areas of interest are Spirituality and Mission and also Fresh Expressions.

Assistant Minister
Revd. Sandie Maude
Sandie (real name Alexander) is originally from Scotland. MA (Theology & Religious Studies), MEd (Special Needs) Advanced  Diploma Special Needs and Teachers Certificate.  Sandy is divorced and lives with her daughter Kirstie at the top of a hill in Norton Tower, Halifax. She is School Chaplain and Key Stage 4 manager at Ravenscliffe High School the generic secondary special school in Calderdale and Assistant Minister in the Erringden Benefice. Sandy studied at Leeds University and University of York St Johns and trained for ordination on the Northern Ordination Course. She teaches full time at Ravenscliffe teaching RE, Communication and Maths. Sandie served her curacy as School Chaplain and in the Erringden Benefice and then remained as Assistant Minister. She has taught in large comprehensive schools  in Bradford and Halifax before moving into the area of Special Education. Her main interests are Spirituality and New Expressions and coming alongside people to share part of their life journey. She is passionate about an inclusive society.

Assistant Minister
Revd. Graham Cansdale
Graham is a retired vicar who moved here with his wife Daphne in 2000. After a degree in Theology, (and Daphne in History) they fell in love on a teacher training course back in 1960. After marriage, two years’ ordination training and a curacy in Dorset, they spent eight years in Kenya, first in a huge country parish under an African vicar, (22 churches), and then doing Bible teaching and clergy training. On returning to UK with their three children, Graham became vicar of Clapham Church near Bedford. After a grim year, (mother died, sister-in-law died etc. etc,) he experienced recurring depression. Eventually after thirteen years there, he switched for 8 years into RE teaching, (part-time) and school Chaplaincy. After redundancy and home tuition with ‘naughty’ (excluded) boys, they moved up here to be near their three married children, (& now 7 grandchildren!) Graham has an incurable disease, ‘Africa in the blood’, and is a voluntary area rep for of CMS. In ’05 he spent five weeks doing some Bible teaching out in DRC Congo. They love Calderdale and being part of the church family of St. Michael’s.

Reader
Victoria Macdonald
Born in 1952 and brought up as the youngest of four children in Nottingham, Victoria trained as a retail jeweller after leaving school and became a Fellow of the Gemmological Society in 1971. Martin and Victoria met bell ringing in London and subsequently married in 1978. They continued to live in the South until their move to Cragg Vale in 2008. They have three adult children whom they have deserted for the North where Victoria says she feels as if she is a round peg in a round hole. Victoria was trained in the St Albans Diocese as a Reader and now exercises her ministry in the Erringden Benefice.
Victoria and Martin own a narrowboat moored on the Rochdale canal and are enjoying watching their Pennine farmhouse and barn being restored. (Victoria is hoping for a digger for Christmas!)

Assistant Minister
Revd. Martin Macdonald
Born in Manchester in 1951, Martin’s family moved to Knaresborough in 1963. Having gone to Lancing School in Sussex for his secondary education, he gained a BSc in Physics at Durham University. From university he went to be trained as an accountant with (then) Price Waterhouse in London, always promising himself that he would return to Yorkshire at some stage. He was unexpectedly called to the ministry and was ordained in 2001, gaining his Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies. Martin subsequently became Curate in the Tring Team in Hertfordshire.  He retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2006 after 34 years before moving to Cragg Vale in 2008, where at present he is assistant priest while acting as a temporary vicar for St Mary’s Luddenden during its vacancy.