Who We Are
Fr. Stephen Moore – Priest-in-charge
Fr. Stephen has a long background influenced by the Anglican Church, extending over at least five generations. His grandfather was an Anglican priest, his education was in church schools, was a parish council member at 22, and all his life he has been immersed in the Church in one way or another. Throughout the 1980’s until 1994 he worshipped at Christ Church St. Laurence, led by Fr. Austin Day, later singing in its choir, followed by periods at St. John’s, Dee Why, NSW (Fr. Stephen Salmon) and St. Peter’s, Cremorne, NSW (Fr. Robert Wheeler); each priest and community actively nurtured his sense of an emerging vocation.
He was prepared for the diaconate by Bp. Greg Thompson at St. John’s, Darlinghurst, NSW, and in 2003 completed his academic studies for ministry at St. John’s, Morpeth, NSW. He was professed as a Tertiary of the Third Order of St. Francis in 2007.
Encouraged by the supervised formation of Bp. Graeme Rutherford he was ordained deacon and then priest by Bp. Roger Herft at Newcastle Cathedral, NSW, in January and November, 2004, respectively, serving his curacy under Bp. Ian Palmer at Muswellbrook, NSW, until the end of 2006. He was appointed to Gresford-Paterson Parish in 2007 where he served as priest-in-charge and later rector for seven years under Bps. Farran and Thompson, including several years as Upper Hunter area dean. After studies at RMC Duntroon, he was commissioned to serve in the ADF as chaplain – at first part-time and later, full-time – initially at the Australian Army’s School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks in Singleton, NSW, where all infantry soldiers complete their initial employment training, and later at 26 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, NSW. The base serves as the headquarters to both the Air Combat Group and the Surveillance and Response Group of the RAAF.
He moved to the United States at the end of his ADF contract in December, 2016, to widen his ministry experience. After six months at Princeton, NJ, he was appointed by Bp. Daniel Gutiérrez, Bishop of Pennsylvania, to Trinity Church, Gulph Mills, PA, as its rector. This is a family-focused parish with an ecumenical ministry with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, several outreach programmes to the local community, and a thriving pre-school. He is a member of the Teamsters Union in order to qualify to drive a school bus in Pennsylvania.
For seven years he also served as associate priest at Saint Mark’s, Philadelphia, PA, where he led its neighborhood-based pastoral care program that reaches its 485 parishioners. It has the seventh largest budget out of 134 parishes in the diocese, and an average Sunday attendance of 285.
He is married to Julie, has two brothers who live in England and Germany, and a sister, living in NSW.
Tanya Carson – Organist
Tanya is the organist of St. Bede’s. She has worked at variety of churches in Melbourne including Oaktree (formerly St Mary’s) and St James Old Cathedral, having had tuition on the Scots’ Church, Melbourne, and practising on the Auburn Uniting Church organ Hawthorn. She spent the last 10 years spent in greater Detroit area, with almost four years as organist of St. Paul’s Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and previously subbing at St. John’s Episcopalian Church Detroit and Church of the Redeemer Episcopalian (which included a small choir and using the Merbecke and Healey Willan mass settings).
She is also a dedicated church chorister. From 1984-2014 she regularly sung in a liturgical choir and directed the choir in the absence of the Director of Music during rehearsal and services.
Tanya is a proficient pianist and accompanist (have achieved AMEB Grade 8, studied Music
Performance in Y12), a capable horn player (have achieved AMEB Grade 7), and studied conducting at university (received second highest mark for year). She has Advanced musical theory knowledge, achieving AMEB Grade 6, studied Music in Y12 and at university.
Karen Fagan – Priest’s Warden and Parish Secretary
Karen is the Priest’s Warden and Parish Secretary, and brings many clerical skills to her secretarial and computer work from her decades in academic library work. Karen is a long-term parishioner at St Bede’s.
Among her many activities, Karen is responsible for all aspects involved the administration of the parish, including diocesan transactions, hall bookings, and record-keeping.
She also manages the Zoom and PowerPoint requirements for each of the services.
Dorothy Thorpe – People’s Warden, Lay Licensed Reader, and Chair, Breakfast @ St. Bede’s Management Committee
Dorothy is a Licensed Lay Reader, People’s Warden and Chair of the Management Committee of Breakfast @St. Bede’s. Previously she had a long career in education (Christian formation and ministry, parish consultancy, secondary school education and writing of educational material), and diocesan responsibilities.
Colin Lehmann – Parish Treasurer
Colin is the Parish Treasurer, drawing on his experience
as a former CBA bank manager and qualified financial planner.
Diana Geier – Memorial Garden Custodian
Diana Geier has been a member of St Bede’s Parish for many years, serving as lay assistant, and in nursing home services, children’s ministry, the choir, and other activities. She is a retired graduate primary teacher who knows the Semaphore area well.
Judith Pennington – Bede’s Bazaar Co-ordinator
Judith is the co-ordinator of Bede’s Bazaar, managing volunteers, weekly operations and stock control. She brings skills from a long career in banking, and a flair and love for fashion and home decoration. She’s also the church pianist.
Jacqueline (Jak) Tazzar – Bede’s Breakfast Co-ordinator
Jacqueline (Jak) Tazzar is the co-ordinator of Breakfast@StBede’s. Jak is a retired enrolled nurse who specialised in palliative and aged care. Through her organisation and management of Breakfast@StBede’s Jak expresses her respect and care for the dignity of all people.
The 2025 Parish Council
Karen Fagan
Dorothy Thorpe
Colin Lehmann
Georgie Stamp
Diana Geier
Catherine Wingate
Greg Manning