Abbey Clergy and Staff
Clergy
Revd Chantal Mason
Chantal was licensed by Bishop Ruth as Bath Abbey Pastor on 6 September 2020. She has a background in secondary education, and taught in Exeter for six years before being ordained in Exeter diocese in 2008. Chantal brings a variety of pastoral ministry experience. She has ministered in a suburban and rural parish in Exeter diocese, as Bishop’s chaplain to Stephen Cottrell in Chelmsford diocese, as Lazenby Chaplain at the University of Exeter, and she has recently worked in a creative Ministry and Media role at Lee Abbey, Devon. Chantal brings a special interest in Church Communications, the Creative Arts and the New Monasticism.
Betsy Blatchley
Betsy was licensed by Bishop Michael as Abbey Missioner on 6 July 2025. She joins us from Battersea, London (Southwark Diocese) where she was Pioneer Minister in the Arts in Nine Elms – establishing and leading Nine Elms Arts Ministry, a Fresh Expression of Church in one of the largest redevelopment areas in Europe – focused on creativity, wellbeing and worship through the arts. Before ordination Betsy worked in theatre for many years initially as a performer and then as a producer culminating in four years producing innovative work for the Royal National Theatre. She trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall Oxford and was ordained in 2003 at St Paul’s Cathedral, she has since served in urban churches across London in Northolt, Balham and as Vicar of St Luke’s, Hackney. Key areas of passion in her ministry are mission and outreach, children and families, social justice, arts and creativity and new expressions of church.
Melinda Welch
Melinda has been part of the Abbey church family since 2021 and joined the clergy team in October 2023 as Youth & Families Minister. Young people and their families are at the heart of the Abbey’s ministry – ‘children and youth are not the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today’. With a background in graphic design, music and dance Melinda brings a range of ministry experience leading small groups in church settings. Originally from Texas, she is married to Nick and has one son.
Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber
With a background in business and team development, Evelyn was ordained in June 2013 and came to Bath Abbey as a curate to train. A recent masters degree enabled her to pursue her interest in teams and leadership writing a dissertation entitled ‘Servant not master; re-imagining time in Christian Leadership’. She is married to Chris and has two daughters and a cat.
Nigel Rawlinson
Nigel and Pat joined the Abbey Christian community in 2019. Nigel was ordained in 1999, and stayed in self-supporting ministry, working as a doctor in A&E, and Palliative Care, and as Director of Student Affairs in Bristol Medical School. After 35 years in medicine, he was appointed University Chaplain, University of Bath, in 2016. He is also Assistant Area Dean, working with Stephen. He believes that people have more faith than they realise, especially at times of crisis.
Revd Ken Madden
Ken served as Headmaster of three independent preparatory schools, including eight years in Kenya, before being ordained in 2009 in Gloucester. After moving to Bath in 2013 he joined the ministry team at St Michael’s Without and from 2018 joined Bath Abbey as an Associate Minister. Since retiring in 2021 Ken now has Permission To Officiate and continues to enjoy a varied and active ministry at the Abbey. Ken is married to Libby and they have three married children and eight grandchildren.
Bath Abbey Executive Director & Churchwardens
Frank Mowat
Frank joined the Abbey in 2017 from HSBC Bank where he was a Regional Director. Frank is MBA qualified and has spent his career leading large teams and helping businesses and charities of all sizes and sectors to successfully achieve their goals and aspirations. Frank is the COO of Bath Abbey and is responsible for its commercial activities, financial performance, capital projects, forward planning and building strong relationships with the local business community, schools and visitor attractions. Frank lives near Bath with his wife Dawn and their dog Ted. They have 2 children, and are long standing Bath Rugby season ticket holders. Frank loves travel, live music and going to the gym.
Andrew Bragg
If you would like to leave a message for Andrew, please call the Abbey office on 01225 422462 and he will get back to you when he can.
