New Vice-President of Conference

Jill Barber — Vice-President of the Conference 2015/2016

Jill Barber grew up in Kent where she attended Petts Wood Methodist Church with her family. At 16, she became a Sunday School teacher and has enjoyed working with young people ever since.

Jill studied English and Librarianship at Aberystwyth University where met her husband, Peter. She spent her first year of married life at St George's Men's Care Centre, Stepney. Jill lives in Crewe, where Peter is Chair of the Chester and Stoke on Trent District.

Jill's career has taken a varied and exciting path. She started out as a children's librarian in Canning Town, later training as a history teacher in Cambridge. After moving from Cornwall, Jill completed a PhD in Historical Methodology at Aberystwyth University. In 1994 she became Education Officer at Westminster Archives, where she researched and developed resources for African Caribbean History. In 2006, Jill became Head of Heritage Services for Hertfordshire County Council.

Since 2011, Jill has been Project Director at Englesea Brook Chapel. She is passionate about 'telling our stories' to engage people outside the Church, and is is inspired by early Methodist women as role models for inclusion and empowerment.

Jill said, "I am looking forward to sharing and exploring our unique Methodist heritage; what it has to offer our world, and how we share our faith stories."