The Reverend Prebendary Matthew Stafford trained for the ministry at The Church Army, Wilson Carlisle College of Evangelism in Sheffield and Ripon College, Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire. It was whilst training with the Church Army that Matthew met his future wife, Julie. They were married at St James the Great, Radley in 1997.
Matthew was ordained Deacon in 1999 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, by the Right Reverend Richard Harries, Lord Bishop of Oxford, serving his Title at St Anne and St Peter, Micklefield and Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
Matthew was ordained Priest in the year 2000 by the Right Reverend Mike Hill, Lord Bishop of Buckingham at All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe.
In 2022 Matthew was made a Prebendary of the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert the King, Hereford.
Matthew and Julie have two grown-up sons, Oran and Conall of whom they are immensely proud.
“Raising awareness of the challenges facing the Probation Service, and supporting and promoting the work of rehabilitation groups, is what I would like to focus on during my Shrieval year, and I intend to do so to the very best of my ability.”
– Katy Tanner