Curia and Trustees

Tel: 0117 902 5598
Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX

e: lyn.murray@cliftondiocese.com

Tel: 0117 902 5590, option 7
Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX

e: paula.asquith@cliftondiocese.com

Tel: 0117 902 5590, option 7
Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX

e: sharon.owen@cliftondiocese.com

Mgr. Liam was born in Tipperary in 1962, second eldest of six boys. Following education in the local Primary School and Christian Brothers Secondary School, Mgr. Liam studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Thurles, and ordained for the Diocese of Limerick on June 11^th, 1988. After two year’s ministries as chaplain to a Third Level College in Limerick City, Mgr. Liam was given a loan placement in Clifton Diocese as Assistant Priest at Clifton Cathedral. He was incardinated as a priest of Clifton Diocese and appointed Assistant Priest to St Mary’s, Swindon in 1993 becoming Parish Priest there until 2010 where later he was appointed Parish Priest at St Peter’s Gloucester. In 2012, Mgr. Liam was appointed Vicars General of Clifton Diocese and became a Trustee of the Diocese. Mgr Liam sits on the Finance, Investment, Audit and Risk, and the HR Committees.

Parish Priest at English Martyrs, Chard. On the 20^th of June 1992, Canon John was ordained having trained at the Beda College in Rome. His first appointment was to St George’s in Taunton as an Assistant Priest. After three years he moved to St Augustine of Canterbury in Matson, Gloucester as Parish Priest. He returned to Taunton in 2000 and then moved to Holy Rood Swindon in 2012. Canon John is well known for his ministry with HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust and has enjoyed many visits to Lourdes. He sits on the Audit and Risk committee.

Canon Richard is Vicar judicial and Vicar Episcopal for Matrimonial Matters and is the Parish Priest at St Catharine of Alexandria, Frome. In 1980, Bishop Mervyn Alexander ordained Canon Richard, in his hometown of Portishead and started his priestly career at Clifton Cathedral. After serving in Bristol, Taunton and Calne, he spent two years studying Canon Law at Leuven before his appointment as Parish Priest at St Thomas More, Cheltenham in 2002.

In 2002, Canon David was ordained. He is Parish Priest at both St Gregory the Great and St Thomas More, Cheltenham. Canon David is Chair to the Property Committee, Health and Safety, and Clergy Welfare Committee and sits on the Safeguarding and Finance committees.

Deacon Steve Boughton was ordained to the permanent diaconate in November 2013 and is based at St Aldhelm’s, Malmesbury. He serves on the Diocesan Vocations Team as promoter for those considering putting themselves forward for formation as deacons and is part of the team that supports our enquirers and existing deacons across our region. Originally, the managing director of a consultancy and for the last fifteen years he has specialised in company transformation, supporting large companies through strategic change around the world, leading large and complex operational, IT and HR programmes. He Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and sits on the Property committee.

Richard became a Trustee in May 2021. He retired in 2018 from the Civil Service after 20 years in the National Probation Service, managing considerable risk offenders released from prison on parole and license. Prior to joining the Probation Service, Richard was a Magistrate in Somerset and a member of the Independent Tribunal Service, hearing DHSS and Child Support appeals. Richard is a Chartered Fellow of the CMI and a Chartered Scientist. He chaired NHS Research Ethics Committees in Bristol and Exeter. This role involved instructing medical students in ethics and consent. Richard has over 30 years’ experience of safeguarding and child protection and Chairs the Safeguarding Committee. He also sits on Property, Finance, Investment and Health and Safety committees.

Patrick lives with his wife, Beetle, near Chipping Sodbury. Since 2014, Patrick has been based in Bristol with the international law firm, Simmons & Simmons as Corporate Finance Partner. Prior to this, Patrick spent 17 years as a Partner at Osborne Clarke, having previously trained at Linklaters and Ashurst in London. Patrick was educated at Ampleforth College and Edinburgh University. As well as being a lawyer, Patrick is a coach and mentor, and has sat on the Boards of several charities. Patrick has three grown up boys and is a keen cyclist, walker, tennis player and fisherman – generally loves being in the wilds of the UK. He enjoys reading in church. In March 2023, Patrick switched his role at Simons & Simmons from Partner to Of Counsel. Patrick joined the Trustees in 2022 and sits on the Safeguarding committee.

Louise practised as a solicitor, for more than 25 years in the commercial real estate team at an international law firm. Following retirement in 2020 she moved to Cheltenham where she volunteers with refugee charities, national and local, and helps at a local charity supporting the homeless and vulnerable. Louise loves walking and has completed several long-distance trails and pilgrim routes, including in 2019 the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome. Louise became a Trustee in December 2023 and sits on the Property committee.

Nick has spent the past decade working in senior management in independent Catholic prep schools, including eight years as Deputy Headmaster of Westminster Cathedral Choir School. He takes an interest in the future of education, EdTech and AI and, before education, worked in theatre general management in London's West End. Nick lives in Tetbury with his wife and two young children. He holds an MA from Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar, and has a diploma in Leadership & Management. Nick  became a Trustee in May 2025 and sits on the Academy Project Board and Schools & Colleges Committee.

John grew up in South London, the younger son of two GPs.  He moved to Malmesbury to work for Dyson in 2005 and is a parishioner of St Aldhelm’s. He is a Charted Accountant and currently Finance Director of a technology company. John is married and has 3 adult sons, with whom he enjoys playing competitive (but not very skilful) games of tennis, golf, and bridge. John became a Trustee in February 2024 and chairs the Finance and Investment Committees, and also sits on the Audit and Risk Committee.

Maria has a particular interest in education, having been involved as a teacher and parent in both Catholic and non-denominational education for over 30 years. Maria was educated at Bury Convent Grammar School and then by the Xaverian Brothers in Manchester before undertaking teacher training in Liverpool, where she gained experience working within inner city, deprived and challenging areas. On moving to the Wootten Bassett area, Maria has worked largely with SEND students before starting a business in the Specialist Provision Sector.  She is a member of St Edmunds Parish in Calne. Maria has 4 children who are either at university or in the early stages of forging their careers but who still enjoy coming home! Maria enjoys walking with her energetic dog, Yoga and is a Benedictine Oblate attached to Douai Abbey, near Reading. She has a keen interest in Catholic Social teaching and is a member of Laudato Si, Green Christian and the Justice and Peace Movement. Maria became a Trustee in December 2023 and sits on the Academy Project Board and Schools and Colleges committees.