Meet Our Clergy Team

Canon John Diver

Parish Priest

Fr Stephen Trafford

Assistant Priest

Rev Ian Black

Parish Deacon

Canon John Diver

Parish Priest

Fr Stephen Trafford

Assistant Priest

Rev Ian Black

Parish Deacon

Also Resident:
Fr. Peter Norris (Retired) 

Canon John Diver - Parish Priest

Some of you will know that Tooting Bec in South London, is a station on the London Underground. To me, it has been my home where I was raised and went to school. My parents came from Donegal in the northwest of Ireland, and I still regard that as home and visit as often as I can. 
 
After School and college I worked in the export department for a large multi-national company, for nearly 10 years.
 
I eventually began my formation as a Catholic priest with Missionaries of Africa, which as part of my formation allowed me to study and undertake pastoral work in Dublin, Zambia, and Uganda, before I returned home and entered St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh where I was ordained as Priest in October 2005.
 
My first appointment was at Our Lady Immaculate in Tolworth, as Deacon and then assistant priest. In 2009 I was asked to be part of the clergy team at St. George’s cathedral and in 2012, I was appointed as parish priest of St. Lawrence of Canterbury in Sidcup, where I remained until I was asked to look after the parish communities of St. John the Baptist in Westerham and St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus in 2021. 
 
In September of this year, I was asked to follow in the shoes of Canon Liam, to become the new parish priest of St. Francis. I have been amazed at the very warm welcome from everyone and the rich diversity of the cultures and nationalities who call the church at Maidstone their spiritual home.
 
I look forward to meeting and serving you as your priest.

Fr Stephen Trafford
Assistant Priest

Fr Stephen was born in Chatham, but grew up in Sittingbourne. He didn’t fully commit to the Christian faith until he reached his teenage years. After finishing his A-Levels, he went to study Theology at Heythrop College in Kensington, London. At the end of that course, he asked to be received into the Roman Catholic Church, having been inspired by his theological studies as well as the witness of St. Damien of Molokai, the 19th century leper Priest. After leaving university, he went on to complete a PGCE at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, before spending six years teaching Religious Education in Catholic Schools, ending up as the Head of Theology, Philosophy and Ethics at The Cedars School (now Virgo Fidelis School) in London.  

In 2019, Fr Stephen started formation for the Priesthood, studying at both St John’s Seminary in Wonersh and Allen Hall, Chelsea, being ordained a priest on the 19th July, 2025, his 33rd birthday. In his spare time, he likes to go and watch ‘proper’ football at his beloved Gillingham FC, go walking and hiking, go bell ringing, watch films and read books. St Francis, Maidstone, is Fr Stephen’s first parish as a priest and he is looking forward to life here, as the whole parish continue to moves forward in faith.  

Rev Ian Black – Parish Deacon

I was born in 1964, growing up in and around Thornton Heath, South London. In 1987 I moved to Maidstone, and Angela and I were married in St Francis later that year. We have lived in the parish since then. We have 4 children, who all went to St Simon Stock Catholic School, Tom – a doctor in Scotland, Peter – a medical engineer in Hampshire, Joe who works in one of our local primary schools and Vicky who is at Oxford Brooke’s University studying nursing.

Professionally from 1985 to 2015 I worked for the London Fire Brigade, as a firefighter and operational Senior Officer, and having moved up through the ranks I served in a variety of roles and at various stations. Before retirement after 30+ years service, I was the Borough Commander for Lambeth, and then headed up a specialist team at Brigade Headquarters. One claim to fame is that I was the Incident Commander at the Vauxhall Helicopter crash in 2013.

After years of helping with various activities within the parish, including running the Confirmation programme, I was accepted for formation to become a Permanent Deacon. On July 19th 2014, I was ordained here at St Francis’ and now have a number of duties as a deacon. In addition to the parish, I am a Clergy Chaplain at St Simon Stock Catholic School, on the Chaplaincy team at Maidstone Hospital and an Assistant Chaplain for the London Fire Brigade. Additionally in 2018 I was appointed as the Assistant Director for Diaconal Formation, responsible for the Kent pastoral area in Southwark diocese.