Our Priest in Charge is the Rt Rev'd Steven Benford - pictured here with Lorraine - his wife.

Bishop Steve came to St James' in August 2024 after nearly 7 years working in New Zealand, where he was the Bishop of Dunedin.

Steve and Lorraine have four grown up children, and six grandchildren who all live in York.

After working for nearly 30 years as a doctor,

Steve went into full-time church ministry in 2014.

Steve has served in the Dioceses of York and London

before his ordination as bishop in 2017.

Steve still has ambitions to be a pub-pianist,

and finds it hard to pass any piano by without

testing it out.

They have adopted Marley - a tri-tone collie cross

who is an occasional church attendee!