Vicar -
Father Dr Nicholas lo Polito
Fr Nicholas (this is how people have always referred to him, but if you address him in person he would rather you called him just “Nicholas”) was born in Turin, Italy, some time in the 20th century… After high school, he trained as a missionary priest in the Catholic Church for eight years: four years in Italy (Florence and Venegono, a castle near Milan) and four in Chicago, USA, where he obtained his M.Div. and M.A. in Theology while engaging in ministry in the South Side African-American ghetto (“third world USA,” as local leaders called it) and as Assistant Chaplain to Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. Immediately after his priestly ordination he left for Cairo, Egypt, where he studied Arabic and Islam and worked with Sudanese refugees. He then moved to a remote area in war-torn, famine stricken South Sudan. He stayed in Sudan for about three years. In Khartoum he met Catherine.
After a spell of parish ministry in Italy, Catherine and Nicholas were married at Christ Church (CofE) in Naples. For the following four years Nicholas served as a Self Supporting Minister in Malta – where Catherine was born - at the Anglican Cathedral and as Chaplain to the foreign inmates in the local prison, while teaching Italian full time in a sixth form college.
After moving to Birmingham, he was appointed Assistant Curate at St Mary and St Margaret’s, Castle Bromwich, and then Team Vicar in the Shirley Team Ministry and Industrial Chaplain to the local retail industry. In 2005 the then Bishop of Birmingham John Sentamu appointed him as the Anglican Chaplain to the University of Birmingham where he stayed for eight years. In 2013 Bishop David Urquhart asked him to take the responsibility of the Parish Church of St Alban’s Highgate, in inner city Birmingham, as Priest in charge and Chaplain to ARK St Alban’s Academy, a successful Church of England secondary school and sixth form with more than 80% of its students from a Muslim background.
In Birmingham Nicholas obtained his PhD in Islamic Studies. Catherine, is a Consultant Histopathologist at Harrogate District Hospital.
Catherine and Nicholas have two daughters: Sara (20) reading French and Italian at Durham University, and Adriana (16) starting sixth form in September at Harrogate Grammar School.
After a spell of parish ministry in Italy, Catherine and Nicholas were married at Christ Church (CofE) in Naples. For the following four years Nicholas served as a Self Supporting Minister in Malta – where Catherine was born - at the Anglican Cathedral and as Chaplain to the foreign inmates in the local prison, while teaching Italian full time in a sixth form college.
After moving to Birmingham, he was appointed Assistant Curate at St Mary and St Margaret’s, Castle Bromwich, and then Team Vicar in the Shirley Team Ministry and Industrial Chaplain to the local retail industry. In 2005 the then Bishop of Birmingham John Sentamu appointed him as the Anglican Chaplain to the University of Birmingham where he stayed for eight years. In 2013 Bishop David Urquhart asked him to take the responsibility of the Parish Church of St Alban’s Highgate, in inner city Birmingham, as Priest in charge and Chaplain to ARK St Alban’s Academy, a successful Church of England secondary school and sixth form with more than 80% of its students from a Muslim background.
In Birmingham Nicholas obtained his PhD in Islamic Studies. Catherine, is a Consultant Histopathologist at Harrogate District Hospital.
Catherine and Nicholas have two daughters: Sara (20) reading French and Italian at Durham University, and Adriana (16) starting sixth form in September at Harrogate Grammar School.
Reader / Joint Safeguarding Lead / District Church Council Secretary -
Canon Ann Nicholl
Ann worshipped for some years at All Souls in the 1980's and fortunately for us returned in September 2015
when she retired from full time work.
Ann is keen to be involved in the mission and outreach of the church and part of that work will
be to encourage the use of the church by our local schools, as with such an iconic building to use, we
have a real opportunity to be part of the education of the young people.
Ann believes that with the development of the various facilities, such as the Undercroft, we can be involved in reaching out to support the needs of our local community.
We are fortunate to benefit from Ann's background of working with Children. She is active in involving the children in the life and activities of the Church and its worship. Its a pleasure to hear a child being instrumental in delivering the intercessions or a group of children sharing what they have been doing during the service.
Ann has a can do attitude and will be instrumental in seeking out funding for a project, or supporting others to develop their ministries, or representing us at Deanery Synod.
when she retired from full time work.
Ann is keen to be involved in the mission and outreach of the church and part of that work will
be to encourage the use of the church by our local schools, as with such an iconic building to use, we
have a real opportunity to be part of the education of the young people.
Ann believes that with the development of the various facilities, such as the Undercroft, we can be involved in reaching out to support the needs of our local community.
We are fortunate to benefit from Ann's background of working with Children. She is active in involving the children in the life and activities of the Church and its worship. Its a pleasure to hear a child being instrumental in delivering the intercessions or a group of children sharing what they have been doing during the service.
Ann has a can do attitude and will be instrumental in seeking out funding for a project, or supporting others to develop their ministries, or representing us at Deanery Synod.
Churchwarden & Deputy Organist -
Andrew Downs
Andrew became Churchwarden in 2018 and follows a family tradition of churchwardens, with this parents and grandparents all being churchwardens at the Anglo catholic Church of Saint Helens, Carlin How, Cleveland.
Andrew has a passion for music, studying music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and singing at The Oratory whilst he lived in Birmingham.
Since moving to Leeds, Andrew has worked for the NHS at Saint James Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary (frequently to be seen staring on One Born Every Minute) and for ten years was the organist at Saint Aidan's, Harehills where he also served on the building committee as well as within other roles within the Church.
Andrew brings his practical skills to All Souls, whether painting doors or filling the church with organ music - Messian and all things French!
Andrew has a passion for music, studying music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and singing at The Oratory whilst he lived in Birmingham.
Since moving to Leeds, Andrew has worked for the NHS at Saint James Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary (frequently to be seen staring on One Born Every Minute) and for ten years was the organist at Saint Aidan's, Harehills where he also served on the building committee as well as within other roles within the Church.
Andrew brings his practical skills to All Souls, whether painting doors or filling the church with organ music - Messian and all things French!
District Church Council Deputy Chair/Treasurer -
Dave Horsman
Reader -
Paul Stapleton
As a Reader, Pauls time is split between two churches: St John the Evangelist, Moor Allerton, and All Souls, Blackman Lane. He preaches and lead services at both, but also has a special interest in contemplative prayer and the Church's ministry of healing.
We are fortunate that Paul has initiated a healing ministry into our services at All Souls and people are appreciative for this opportunity to partake in this important ministry .
Paul says that he especially values the warmth of our church fellowship at All Souls, the concern to reach out in service to our local community and the reverence and beauty of our Anglo-Catholic tradition of worship.
We are fortunate that Paul has initiated a healing ministry into our services at All Souls and people are appreciative for this opportunity to partake in this important ministry .
Paul says that he especially values the warmth of our church fellowship at All Souls, the concern to reach out in service to our local community and the reverence and beauty of our Anglo-Catholic tradition of worship.
Churchwarden & Joint Safeguarding Lead -
Monica Richardson-Sowe
All Souls has played a significant part in most of Monica's life and her house overlooks part of the Church. She has grown up around the Church, witnessed its highlights and lowlights, seen out numerous clergy and witnessed the changes in worship over the years.
Monica has a strong passion for All Souls, she cares about the grounds, the Church and its people in equal measure.
By day Monica works as a cook and by night a 'doorman', or some might say 'bouncer'. As a result, Monica is respected within the local community, particularly by the children. Little goes on around the Church without her knowing, the dog mess by the entrance, the parked car by the west door, the rubbish in the garden, Monica knows who did it and a quiet word ensures it doesn't happen again. .
Equally if a newcomer is looking baffled by some of the unfamiliar things that happen in a service, there's a good chance that Monica will have noticed and discretely sat next to them. If an old friend appears you'll hear a call of delight and then see that person engulfed in a hug, albeit in the quietest part of the service!
Monica has a strong passion for All Souls, she cares about the grounds, the Church and its people in equal measure.
By day Monica works as a cook and by night a 'doorman', or some might say 'bouncer'. As a result, Monica is respected within the local community, particularly by the children. Little goes on around the Church without her knowing, the dog mess by the entrance, the parked car by the west door, the rubbish in the garden, Monica knows who did it and a quiet word ensures it doesn't happen again. .
Equally if a newcomer is looking baffled by some of the unfamiliar things that happen in a service, there's a good chance that Monica will have noticed and discretely sat next to them. If an old friend appears you'll hear a call of delight and then see that person engulfed in a hug, albeit in the quietest part of the service!
Organist -
Keith Senior
