our ex-officio foundation governor:
Father Jeremy Dussek
Father Jeremy was appointed as the priest for the communities of Hanmer, Overton, Bronington and Penley in February 2023, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood that summer and becoming the ex-officio member of St Mary’s School governing body.
Jeremy became a vicar because he enjoys helping people and being part of a wider community. This was inspired by spending Thursday afternoons at Cantebury Cathedral during his school days; a safe space for a young man who enjoyed music, art and running, and didn’t always fit in at boarding school.
His great love of music and art continued into adulthood – he still enjoys playing the cello and piano and spent seven years singing with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus.
During his time as Canon Precentor at Chester Cathedral, Jeremy organised the Global Images of Christ exhibition consisting of 74 paintings and sculptures from both public and private collections, including works commissioned to address the absence of how Christ is seen through the stories and accounts of black and ethnic voices. This is a particular passion of his.
Jeremy has also recently revived his commitment to keeping fit – attending a gym near Whitchurch. Jeremy says: “I’ve lost a lot of weight, I feel better, and I’ve got more energy for work.” Until Spring 2025, he hadn’t done structured exercise in years – despite completing the London Marathon to raise money for the Rainbow Centre, Fareham (supporting children with cerebral palsy) in 2006.
Helping children learn about faiths and spirituality has always been a great part of his role, as Jeremy worked with primary and secondary school pupils during his time in Chester and for the last 3 years has been responsible for 5 church primary schools in the Maelor area. His work with young people will continue, although in different settings, as he is leaving Overton to take up a new position in Wolverhampton.
From April 2026 Jeremy will take over as rector of St Peter’s Collegiate Church and will also be responsible for the Church of St John in the Square. This will be a huge change, swapping the rural villages of north-east Wales for the Molineux Stadium, art gallery and the Glaze cafe, and a commute to work which involves crossing the busy Wolverhampton ring-road.
Although the rectory in Wolverhampton will be his base, Jeremy will continue to have a home in Ellesmere, and will no doubt return to Overton to visit the corner shop and butcher’s! We thank him for his service to our school and community and wish him well in his new post.