Gary Philbrick
Rector
01425 653163
Gary was born in Cheshire, moved to Ayrshire with his sister and parents in his early teens, and then to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in time to take ‘O’ Levels. He came to Southampton in 1975 to read music at the University there. He became organist of Otterbourne, near Winchester, moved into the village whilst doing a PGCE at King Alfred’s College, Winchester, and then taught in the primary school there.
In the mid 80′s he went to Edinburgh for ordination training at Coates Hall Theological College, and also studied for a BA at Edinburgh University (he returned to Southampton University and completed a part-time MA in Theology in 1999).
Ordained in 1986, he has served in the Parishes of Maybush, on the Western edge of Southampton, Fawley, on the Eastern edge of the New Forest, and from 2000-2013, Swaythling, on the northern edge of Southampton. He was Area Dean of Southampton from 2007 – 2013, and an Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral since 2009.
He has a foster son, now in his mid-thirties, ordained and serving as a Curate in a Parish in Southampton, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Gary has conducted the Keble Choir since its foundation in 1985, travelling for a week each summer to a Cathedral somewhere in the country. He is interested in clocks, coins, bellringing, friends, family, cinema, books, tea rooms and other random subjects.
Gary really enjoys being part of the Avon Valley Churches, getting to know the people of the Churches, town and villages, and discovering what God has got in store for us as we journey together. As Area Dean, he is also enjoying working with the Deanery of Christchurch, exploring what it means to be the people of God in this beautiful and diverse area which has been entrusted to our care as a Deanery.