Barry Dugmore Appointed as Chair of the Board

April Gold, the Diocesan Director of Education has stepped down from the position of Chair, having taken on the role for 12 months. April remains as a member of the Board as a Trustee. We would like to express our gratitude to April for the vision and due diligence that she brought to the role.

Barry has said: "We are indebted to April for her great work as chair of trustees, and thrilled that she will remain as a trustee to the TFC board to share her energy, wisdom and expertise with us in the continuing work of TFC."

Biography

Barry was born in Stoke-on-Trent before moving to Kent in his early years. He later became a graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry and began a career in agrochemical research.

Barry’s career in research resulted in a move to Hampshire with his wife Suzanne and young family. Later he began a commercial career in the pharmaceutical /medical device industry working as a medical representative.

Suzanne’s quiet insistence on a church wedding, and later, the hospitality and welcome of a local church were instrumental for Barry coming to a living faith as a parent of young children.

As a musician and singer in various bands, he, and Suzanne, also a singer, became part of a new ‘worship band’ discovering a whole new world of worship music! Barry’s faith grew as he developed as a worship leader and preacher. He also discovered his gift of evangelism and passion to encourage others in church to simply to share and tell their own faith story.

Following training at STETS (Southern Theological Education & Training Scheme) Barry was ordained in Portsmouth diocese in 2001. He served his curacy in Cowplain, from there to Whiteley, prior to moving to Tiverton in Exeter Diocese in 2007. Here he led two churches through a period of healing, renewal and significant growth, and also served as Rural Dean.

Before joining Coventry Diocese, Barry was Exeter Diocese’ Mission Enabler working with clergy, lay leaders, PCCs and congregations to encourage confidence in faith sharing, growth in whole life discipleship, fresh expressions of church and church planting. Instrumental to this has been the ‘Mission Shed’ local resource hub network that Barry envisioned and launched. He was also part of a team working on a successful project to plant, with a significant SDF grant, three new churches on outer estates in Plymouth, and currently chairs Plymouth Partnership in Mission which provides oversight to the new church plants.

Barry was appointed Archdeacon Mission in 2019. As a member of the Bishop’s core staff team he is responsible for clergy appointments, and the strategic development for mission and church growth in the diocese. He with his team support our parishes to deliver mission and ministry across the Diocese. Barry subsequently joined the Board of Trustees for Together for Change in 2020.

Barry has brought his passion for supporting our Diocesan purpose to worship God, make new disciples and transform communities to support TFC’s work in our most deprived communities. At TFC, we are excited for the vision and heart that Barry will bring to his role as Chair of the Board.