Our Team

Father Steven Salmon SSC

Father Steven Salmon grew up in Sydney. He was educated at Sydney High School and the University of Sydney, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, History, Classical Studies and Philosophy. He trained for the Priesthood at Trinity College in Melbourne and was ordained in the Diocese of Wangaratta (in central and north eastern Victoria) in 1991. He served in several parishes in Victoria before being appointed Parish Priest of Kilmore, just north of Melbourne. Father Steven served on the Council of the Diocese of Wangaratta, and was an Examining Chaplain for the Bishop, involved with the selection, training and care of candidates for ordination. With a particular interest in adult Christian education and ministry formation, as well as Liturgy, he headed several bodies and initiatives in these areas in the Diocese. 

Firmly within the Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, Father Steven is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, the oldest society of priests in the Anglican Communion (founded 1855). He was Deputy Master of the Australasian Province from 1998 until 2009.

He returned to Sydney in 2000 to be Rector of the parish of St John the Evangelist in Dee Why.
Father Steven is married to Sandra. They have one son, Christopher, who was born in 1997.

In 1994 she married Steven and moved to the Parish of Kílmore where they ministered together until their move to St John’s in 2000. Their son Christopher, was born in 1997. Sandra’s ministry in St John’s is varied. It includes working with children, (Godly Play, Children’s talks, Playtime and Scripture teaching) as well as Pastoral visiting, especially to the frail and elderly. She leads a daytime Bible Study group, is President of the Mothers’ Union group and participates in Caritas, in particular leading the Devotions. She takes a regular service at a local Retirement Village, as well as taking her place as Deacon in the liturgy and preaching from time to time.

Father Howard Cocks SSC – Honorary Assistant Priest

Father Howard was born in Sydney to a church going family (his maternal grandfather, after distinguished service in WW1, was subsequently ordained in the Diocese of Grafton). After working in a bank for some years, Father Howard trained for the sacred ministry at St Barnabas College Adelaide (1978-1980). He was ordained Deacon in 1980 and Priest in 1981 for the Diocese of Ballarat serving in the Parish of Portland, Victoria. In 1982 he accepted the invitation to take up the position of senior curate in the Parish of Prestbury, Diocese of Gloucester, UK where he was in charge of the “daughter” church (Chapel-of-Ease). After serving five years and deciding to stay in the UK he became rector of a group of four parishes in the Cotswolds (same Diocese). A group of immense variety from housing estates to  “hunting, fishing and shooting”.

Called to a different type of ministry, Father Howard accepted the Parish of Newparks in the Diocese of Leicester – a parish with high social needs and low self-esteem. St Aidan’s Newparks is a modern church with very traditional anglo-catholic worship suiting the parishioners admirably. He also had the responsibility of training curates, was appointed Rural Dean, and tutored/lectured in Old Testament and Church History for the School of Ministry (part of the University of Nottingham).

In 2004, Father Howard accepted the living of the Parish of Winchelsea in the Diocese of Chichester, which was totally different from Newparks – affluent, well-educated and successful parishioners. Winchelsea is situated on the south coast and on a clear night the lights of France can been seen. It was a happy parish with strong community involvement. There were lots of social activities which were always great fun.

In 2006, Father Howard was appointed Canon of the Diocese of the Murray. He retired in 2012 and went to live in London. While living in London, he lived in a 16th-century alms house - the London Charterhouse, originally a Carthusian monastery which suffered appallingly at the dissolution of the monasteries. Father Howard held a license for the Diocese of London and Diocese of Southwark which enabled him to provide relief in the absence of the parish priest.

In 2018, Father Howard returned to Australia after an absence of 37 years to be with his family, and is very happy to be worshipping at St John’s.

Director of Music – Anthony Pasquill

Listed by Limelight magazine as a rising star in Australia’s choral scene, Anthony is a regular collaborator with leading choirs across a broad repertoire. Appointed Director of Music in 2018, Anthony has also been the Artistic and Musical Director of Sydney based chamber choir Bel a cappella between 2009 and 2023 and has toured Europe twice with the ensemble.

Anthony read music at both Leeds University and the University of North Texas, before studying conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Prior to his university studies he was a chorister in the choir of Lichfield Cathedral. He has participated in masterclasses with some of Australia’s finest professional choirs and orchestras, including the Auckland Philharmonia, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and has worked alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as both an assistant conductor and as part of their education projects.

Anthony has worked as Assistant Chorus Master of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and most recently as the Associate Chorus Master of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra where he was the second conductor for the first Australian performance of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 4 in Hamer Hall which has been released on Chandos Records to critical acclaim. He has worked for noted international conductors including Simone Young, Vladimir Ashkenazy, David Robertson, Paul McCreesh, Bramwell Tovey, Eric Whitacre and Sir Andrew Davis, and for festivals including the BBC Australian Proms and Sydney Festivals, and has given performances in both the Sydney Opera House and Hamer Hall. Anthony has chorus mastered and conducted first performances of many works by composers including Tarik O’Regan, Gabriel Jackson, Bernat Vivancos, Thomas Jennefelt, Galina Grigorjeva, Tõnu Kõrvits, James MacMillan and Caroline Shaw.

Pastoral Care Assistant - Lynette Johnson

Lynette has been a parishioner here for the past 35 years, since her arrival with her family from the UK. Lynette has completed an Education for Ministry course and has studied at Mary Andrews College to gain a Diploma in Christian Studies.

She has completed a Lifeline Telephone counselling course and 3CPE courses (Clinic Pastoral Education) at Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards. During that time she worked on the Children’s ward, Oncology ward and Emergency and Accident Department. She also worked at Westmead Children’s Hospital.

Lynette had been a pastoral care worker at Manly Hospital for almost 20 years until Manly Hospital closed. She is still involved in Mona Vale rehab hospital and now the new Palliative Care Unit where she organises in-service talks and support for other pastoral care workers.

She visits our local private hospital (Delmar Hospital) one morning or afternoon a week or whenever they call her in. She is also the Volunteer co coordinator for pastoral care and Chaplain at the Northern Beaches Hospital. She has recently obtained a licence from the Archbishop of Sydney as a Lay Minister at St. Johns. She is part of the Pastoral Care team in the Parish as well as Baptism co-ordinator for our Parish and handles Baptism related issues, as well as being very involved in the children’s ministry work.

Lynette can be contacted on 0408 254 125 or email: lynettejohnson312@gmail.com

Parish Safe Ministry Representative - Lesley Flood