The Junia Network Committee
Rev Sophie Bannister
Chair
Sophie initially served on The Junia Network committee as the Ordinands & First Appointments rep, and then as Vice Chair.
She trained for ordination at Ridley Hall and Oak Hill colleges, served her curacy in the City of London, and now ministers in South Lincolnshire with her also-ordained husband.
Having benefited so much from the wisdom of other women in the network, she’s delighted to play her part in helping to support and encourage ordained evangelical women.
With two young children, she doesn’t have loads of spare time, but where possible her favourite ways to relax are reading, walking, spending time with friends, and trying to master the art of crochet.
Rev Suzanne Grindrod
Secretary
Suzanne keeps the committee in order, making sure our minutes are accurate, and meeting dates are in our diaries!
Suzanne was ordained in 2011 in Gloucester Diocese and served her curacy in Lydney in the Forest of Dean where she met her husband Steve who is a Licenced Lay Minister. She then became Priest-in-Charge of Ashchurch and Kemerton on the edge of Tewkesbury from September 2015 to November 2022. Suzanne is currently licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Draycot Benefice which comprises of 5 rural parishes in North Wiltshire in Bristol Diocese.
Suzanne also enjoys walking and getting out and about in the countryside.
Rev Jess Savill
Operations Secretary
Jess is Vicar of St Peter’s Toton, and loves being a part of The Junia Network Committee. She loves to organise and design websites. Her role on the committee is to say hello to new members, make sure the money is looked after and generally help to make things run smoothly!
Jess loves to go walking, particularly with her 2 dogs. She loves cooking, baking and the theatre and generally spending time with loved ones.
Rev Michelle Porter-Babbage
Retreat Organiser
Michelle organises our annual retreats. If you would like to help with any aspect of our conferences (annual residential, or day gatherings) then please get in touch.
She was ordained priest in June 2015 and after a curacy in the North Cotswolds, is now Associate Minister of Warfield, in Oxford diocese.
Rev Josie Chamings
Ordinands and First Appointments Rep
Josie was ordained in 2023 and is currently a curate in Derby Diocese based in Chesterfield. She loves to think big and dream about the possibilities for future ministry as an evangelical woman in the Church of England and hopes to offer some of that in her role as Ordinands and First Appointments Rep.
Passionate about teaching the bible and prayer, she loves making faith accessible to people. Josie loves walking her dog in the Peak District and anything involving creativity.
Rev Imogen Ball
Resourcing Rep
Imogen trained at Trinity College Bristol and was ordained with her husband in 2021. They served their curacy just outside Taunton in the South-West. In September 2024 they moved onto a new housing development with an amazing team to build community and plant a church. Imogen started a PhD in October 2025 researching the trauma recovery process in women’s resistance songs in the Old Testament. She spends her time doing research, writing, churchy things, and looking after two of their boys.
Imogen supports the resourcing element of the Junia network. She loves chatting about topics for discussion and getting to know our members’ interests.
Rev Jo Levasier
Marketing Rep
Jo started working for churches as a youth and children’s minister, eventually training at Wycliffe and being ordained in 2009. After a clergy couple job-share curacy and first incumbency in the diocese of Guildford, Jo is now team vicar & deanery schools missioner in Swanage, Dorset in the diocese of Salisbury. She is passionate about creative worship and making church accessible to those not-yet involved.
Jo has been coming along to the Junia retreats for a few years now and is looking forward to serving on the committee in the area of marketing, with the hope of increasing general awareness of our fabulous network! When not busy in church or schools, Jo loves walking her labrador on the beach or SW coast path.
Rev Phillipa Maddox
General Rep
Phillipa is the Rector of. Mary’s Church in Baldock, Hertfordshire. She has been a member of the Junia Network since she was ordained in 2020.
With a background as an Occupational Therapist in the N.H.S., Phillipa was a Children and Families Pastor before being called to ministry and trained part-time at St. Mellitus College.
Phillipa enjoys gardening, music and reading trashy fantasy novels. She has recently taken up line dancing and bell ringing, both of which are fun ways to relax and balance the busy demands of parish life.
Rev Tolu George
General Rep
My name is Tolu, and I was ordained in 2024, serving my curacy in St Albans Diocese.
I have a passion for sharing the gospel, teaching and nurturing faith in others, especially children and young people – I have the joy of raising 3 inquisitive children who challenge my preconceived ideas of God.
I love to see the church unashamedly and joyfully take her place – to be hopeful about God’s mission.
My favourite part of the day is my coffee and pastry time with God.
I love to connect with people and encourage them in their ministry – and doing that over coffee and cake is a yummy blessing.