Our Ministry Team
The ministry of our church is taken forward by many people, ordained and lay, who give generously of themselves in countless ways.
The Revd Canon Helen Marshall
ChaplainOriginally from Cheshire in the north of England, Helen studied English Literature at university in Norwich before living and working in various places in the UK and abroad. She has served as a parish priest in a range of contexts, including inner-city Bristol, suburban Croydon, and the small town of Keswick in the Lake District. Her experience also includes working as a university chaplain at King’s College, London, and as a chaplain at an elderly people’s home in Penrith. She has also had brief experiences of living and working in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Passionate about encouraging people to deepen their spiritual lives, Helen has led numerous quiet days and retreats and provided spiritual direction. She has written a couple of Grove booklets: Total Cost and Total Transformation: Learning from St John of the Cross and Solitude and Community: Open to God, Open to Others.
Helen is married to David, who is also involved in the ministry of St Ursula’s as Assistant Chaplain. On their days off they love to hike and explore the beauties of Switzerland. They have two sons, Tom and Simon, who both live in the UK.
The Revd Canon Dr David Marshall
Assistant ChaplainDavid is married to our Chaplain, Helen. Like Helen, he has served since ordination in different roles (including parish ministry, college chaplaincy, and theological education) and in various contexts (including England, Kenya, the USA, and now, to his great delight, here in Bern). David has worked in the field of Islamic Studies and as an educator and resource-person in the field of Christian-Muslim relations. As well as serving part-time as Assistant Chaplain at St Ursula’s, David helps to edit the journal of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome, and to organize a long-running dialogue for Muslim and Christian scholars called Building Bridges.
For more about David’s work, see https://unibe-ch.academia.edu/DavidMarshall.
Please note that David is on leave in November and December 2025.
The Revd Dr James M Morgan
CurateJames is married to Lilian, with whom he served as a missionary theologian in Niger and Italy. They have three grown-up children and two grandchildren.
James was raised in the Anglican tradition in the United States in his home state of Virginia. Lilian grew up in the Emmental and in the evangelical tradition. After many years of service in various mission and denominational contexts, James reconnected with his Anglican roots here in Bern and now seeks to serve both Church and Academy, primarily through preaching, teaching, and mission.
At St Ursula’s, James helps lead worship in Bern and Fribourg. He set up and co-leads the Teens group. James is a biblical scholar at the University of Fribourg, teaching and researching in the areas of ancient historiography, the Gospel of Luke, and the Acts of the Apostles.
Archana Jacob
Lay ReaderArchana was licensed as a lay reader in 2016 and has been part of the ministry team at St Ursula’s ever since. She grew up in the church and discovered early what it means to belong to a vibrant, international Christian community. Over the years, she has served in many roles — at the altar, leading Bible studies, offering pastoral care, interceding in prayer, teaching Junior Church, and serving as churchwarden. These experiences deepened her love for Scripture and appreciation for the unique gifts each person brings to church life.
Alongside her ministry, Archana works as a senior executive in the business world. She seeks to bring a Christian perspective into the marketplace and reflect in her preaching the real-life challenges and joys of faith in work and leadership.
Archana is married to Emil, whose strong encouragement and unwavering support make her feel she can tackle any new venture. They share life with their energetic, adventurous daughter, whose infectious laughter brings daily joy.