Meet The Team

Priest in Charge 

Rev. Daniel Valentine

Daniel was born and brought up in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. He moved to London in his early twenties and lived there until 2004 when he relocated to Manchester.

Following training with the Yorkshire Ministry Course, the College of the Resurrection (Mirfield) and the University of Sheffield, Daniel was ordained in Manchester Cathedral as a deacon in 2016 and priest in 2017. He originally served his curacy in Chorlton (South Manchester) and as a Chaplain at Manchester Airport. In 2019, he was appointed as Priest in Charge at St Matthew with St Mary, Crumpsall (North Manchester). Daniel is working hard to refocus the church on being entrepreneurial, outward-looking and seeking to serve and bless a diverse and multicultural community in the face of significant local economic and social challenges.  

In addition to his duties as parish priest, Daniel is a Community Governor of the North Manchester Primary Federation overseeing both Crumpsall Lane and Crab Lane Primary Schools. He is an Honorary Chaplain at Manchester Cathedral and advises candidates exploring a vocation to the priesthood. Daniel was elected to the General Synod (the C of E Parliament) in 2020 and in the same year was commissioned as a Captain in the Royal Army Chaplains Department serving the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force as Padre. He is a community ambassador for the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Daniel continues to practice as a solicitor (admitted 2004). He combines his ministry with continuing to run his legal practice established in 2008 specialising in employment law. Before training as a lawyer Daniel worked in human resources, working in the automobile, manufacturing and telecommunications industries. 

Daniel holds undergraduate degrees in law and theology; postgraduate diplomas in human resources and legal practice; and a master’s degree in employment law. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, the Industrial Law Society, the Society of Legal Scholars and the Ecclesiastical Law Society. He is a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.

Daniel shares the Rectory with his friend and flatmate Oliver and also with Charlie, a West Highland White Terrier. Charlie’s nose is sometimes put out of joint when Daniel’s own dog Zsa Zsa (a Bichon Frise cross Shih Tzu) comes to stay from Buckinghamshire where she lives now as a companion to Daniel’s mother. Daniel has other family living in New Zealand. 

Daniel’s late father was always a passionate Liverpool FC supporter, so Daniel could never support Manchester United! When he is required to pick sides he refers to himself as a Manchester City fan, but he would struggle to name more than a couple of players and the offside rule remains a complete mystery to him!  

In the little spare time that he has (when not working or ministering), Daniel’s interests include classical music and theatre (particularly opera and musicals). He enjoys spending time in London or at his holiday home in Lincolnshire. Daniel loves good food and good company. Unfortunately, all this conspires to ensure that Daniel is a serial failure at Slimming World. He is learning however to accept that he is built for comfort and not for speed! 

You can follow Daniel on Twitter @CrumpsallCleric.  

Contact information 

St Matthew's Rectory - 30 Cleveland Road - Crumpsall - Manchester M8 4QU 

Tel: 0161 492 0387

email: daniel@crumpsallchurch.co.uk

church wardens

Ian Choularton

Contact information 

Tel: 0161 795 0638

Johnson Ovbighowhara

Contact information 

Tel: 0161 740 9780