The Ministry Team
In the Netherwent Ministry Area we have a great team of Priests and Lay Ministers who lead worship, study groups and life event services across the area. We also have a wonderful group of retired Priests who also lead some of our weekly services. Here are some of the people you’re likely to meet when you come to a service or event.
Rev. Canon Jeremy Harris – Ministry Area Leader
Jeremy will be retiring at the end of May 2024 to contact a member of the clergy after this time please ring 01633 882266
Hello I’m Jeremy and I’m the Ministry Area Leader. I moved to Magor in 2009 having previously been the curate of Monmouth. After many years as a lay minister I began training for the ordained ministry in my early 40’s at St Michael’s college in Llandaff; with a degree in theology from Lampeter and an MPhil from Cardiff Universities.
Prior to ordination I spent 20 years working in finance having qualified as an accountant in the 1980’s and then going on to work in the public, charity and private sectors. I now describe myself as a ‘recovering accountant’! Although I’ve worked all around the UK (and a short time abroad) I’ve always considered South East Wales to be my home and it’s a great joy and honour to serve as a Priest here in Monmouth Diocese.
In my spare time I’m passionate about hill walking and set myself the goal of walking at least 2,000 miles every year – you may have seen me out and about locally. I also enjoy travelling, history and genealogy.
Rev. Dan Frett – Team Vicar
Hi I’m Dan and I’m one of the Team Vicars in Netherwent. Before joining the team here I was a worker priest for over 20 years, serving in London, Surrey, and Chepstow.
I see my job as a priest as helping us as individuals and as a community in becoming our own unique version of the image of God which each of us bears. My wife, Ruth, works for the Gloucestershire Constabulary and we have four children who have all grown up and left the nest. That has left us with our two dogs, Bertie and Jeeves .I am their primary care giver and enjoy walking them in the beautiful woodlands we have around Caldicot. I have a keen interest in our sacred texts and how we can apply them to our Christian walk.
I am also a member of the nascent Monmouth Diocese Strong Man team with Vicar Phil Averay from Chepstow. You can find us a couple times a week at Derek’s Gym in Chepstow with a bunch of other ‘older’ lifters.
Rev. Gaynor Burrett – House for Duty Team Vicar
Gaynor joined the team in February 2024 and works across the ministry area in developing pastoral support.
Rev. Gilly Hubbard – House for Duty Team Vicar
Hi, I am Gilly and I am married to John, with two children and one lovely granddaughter.
Born in South Wales, I trained as a registered general nurse, but after a couple of decades working in Gloucester, answered God’s call to train for ordination. After 31 years in the nursing profession I changed career and took up an incumbent’s post in Mow Cop, North Staffordshire. Nine years later saw us moving to the Caldicot Benefice where I now work as a team vicar on a house for duty basis. My husband and I also childmind our granddaughter two days a week, so life is very full!
I enjoy painting, walking and attempting some ballroom and Latin dancing.
I believe preaching should be be both relevant and applicable to today’s society and enjoy exploring creative ways to help people connect with God. I also have a passion for helping people to grow in their spiritual lives and have recently begun training to be a spiritual director.
Rev. Hilary Prest – Associate Priest
Hilary will be retiring at the end of March 2024
I’m Hilary and in 2009 I retired from fulltime employment after working for 36 years in the insurance industry in South Wales and the South West of England.
Prior to ordination, I was a Licenced Lay Minister from 2005, in the parish of Bassaleg and on retirement I became more involved on a day to day basis in the parish. I also volunteered with the Chaplaincy Department at the Royal Gwent Hospital. I was ordained Deacon in 2015 and Priest in 2016 and continued ministry in Bassaleg.
I moved to the Magor Ministry Area in May 2018.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and also visiting different parts of the UK for holidays.
Rev. Kay Denly – Assistant Curate
Hello I’m Kay (pictured here with one of my grandsons). I was ordained Deacon in October 2020 and Priested in June 2021.
I am married to Alan who is a motor mechanic, and we live in Caerwent. We have collectively 4 adult offspring and 8 grandchildren whose ages range from mid-teens to just short of 2 years. Having been a congregant member of Caerwent church since 1996, I have a long association with this area. I have spent most of my life working with children both in ministry, as a Sunday school teacher, and in my career, working with primary aged children supporting those with special educational needs. My hobbies are reading and crochet, but I dabble in all kinds of craft!
I look forward to meeting many of you as I minister in the Netherwent Ministry Area.
Rev. Mandy East – Assistant Curate
Hi I’m Mandy and I’m an Assistant Curate here in the Netherwent Ministry Area.
I was born and grew up in Loughborough in the Midlands. I then got married and moved to Germany where I spent 17 years. I moved back to the UK in 2004 and was re-married in 2007 to Gareth. I have two children from my first marriage, Natasha and Curtis.
Gareth and I moved to Rogiet in 2012 and I was licenced as a Lay Eucharistic Minister in 2013. I started part time training with St Padarns Institute, Cardiff in 2016 and was Ordained in June 2021. My passion and calling is Healing, and I am part of the Diocesan Healing, Wholeness and Reconciliation Group. I also run Meditation and relaxation sessions online every 3 weeks.
I am a very crafty type person and enjoy making jewellery, cards and love cross stitch – I can pretty much turn my hand to most crafts.