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Contents: Ministers | Lay workers | Circuit stewards
I grew up in a Christian home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and began my local preaching whilst working for a light engineering company. I continued my local preaching studies and tested my calling to the ministry by going to Cliff College in Derbyshire for a year, and have very fond memories of my time there. I returned to my home town, candidated for the ministry and moved to Queen’s College, Birmingham for my ministerial training. My first appointment was in Didsbury, Manchester, and from there we moved on to Knaresborough and then Otley, before moving to Baildon in 2007. My wife, Carol, and I are parents to Sarah who is a teacher, and Tim who is in his final year at university.
I am an Anglican Priest serving as a non-stipendiary Curate to Rev Sarah Jemison who acts as Vicar at Christchurch, Windhill LEP. I am also an Authorised Minister in the Methodist Church. Before being ordained Deacon in 2005 at the age of 70 and then Ordained Priest in 2006, I had been a Lay Reader in the Anglican Church at Windhill since 1974. I trained to be a Textile Designer at Salts Mill and worked there until 1974 shortly before the mill closed. I am married to Joyce, and have three children Mark, James and Ruth.
I’m Cheshire born, but Yorkshire bred,
I was born in Keighley and lived in the village of Cowling until I was 5 years old. I then returned to Yorkshire in 2003 to become the minister of Little Lane Church. Little Lane is a partnership of Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Christians and I am a Baptist minister. Before coming to Bradford I worked with a church in London for eight years. Other responsibilities include being a Mentor for Newly Accredited Ministers within the Baptist Union and Chaplain of 44F Squadron, Air Cadets based at Belle Vue Barracks in Bradford. I am married to Adam who teaches RE at Buttershaw High School and we share our home with four cats. Maggie, we acquired as a kitten when she was found in the church one Sunday morning. I am an avid reader of thrillers and crime novels and have just discovered a local author, Lesley Horton. I can recommend her books.
I have moved to West Yorkshire from South Wales. I am married to Ruth and we have three children aged 16, 13 and 11. I have been a minister for fourteen years previously serving in Cardiff and Liverpool. Prior to training in Durham I was a church lay worker, youth worker, an adult educator and a primary school teacher (not all at the same time!). I am interested in education and learning, working with small groups and how churches use outside spaces.
I came into the Bradford North Circuit from the East Anglia District where I was the minister of an Ecumenical Partnership comprising of ten churches, which included URC, Methodist and Anglican traditions. Having grown up in the New Forest and trained in Birmingham I have found that both hold a distinct spirituality. I am married to Tabitha and we share a wide and eclectic range of music, arts and crafts when time allows. We have also been involved in our local Scout Group and District. I’ve enjoyed being their Chaplain for the last three years.
Hello! I’m Stella Hayton and I’m the URC minister at Northcliffe Church in Shipley. I’m married to John, who is an unpaid minister at St John’s URC in Fagley, and we share our house with a menace (otherwise known as a cat) named Barney. For some reason I like lots of things that begin with the letter “c” - cats, chocolate, crosswords, celery and cake being the top five. Being a non-conformist, we’ll have to wait and see if “Circuit” gets added to the list!
My name is the Rev Keith W Hunt, I was ordained in 1982 and eventually transferred to the Methodist Church in 1991. From September 2009, I shall be in Pastoral Charge of Eccleshill, Thackley and Thornton Methodist Churches. I am happy in my ministry and find it quite fulfilling. I am a traditional Methodist Minister, so I believe that the Ordained Minister is set apart for the “Ministry of the Word and Sacrament”. I believe the aim of the church is to worship God and spread the Gospel to all people. Central to the Gospel is Christ’s atonement on the cross and His resurrection. When a person receives Christ into their lives, thus accepting His forgiveness, they are made right with God and are “Justified by Faith”.
I came to Shipley in 1997 as a Probationer, with pastoral charge of Saltaire Methodist Church and Christchurch, Windhill LEP (Anglican/Methodist) working alongside the Vicar until he resigned. From September 2009 I will be looking after Christchurch, Wrose and Crag Road Methodist Churches. I have worked in education in Bradford, Keighley, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, as a layworker at Touchstone and as a community development worker at the Hutson Street Project. I find great fulfilment in creative worship and activity, spiritual direction and engagement with local communities. I am married to John and have two grown up sons, Tom and Luke.
I was born and brought up in Zimbabwe, the youngest of twelve children and received my early learning at mission schools. I graduated in Business Management and had a successful career in retail. Later I offered my life to the service of God and trained at Cliff College where I graduated and came in September 2007 as a probationary Minister with responsibility for Calverley, Bolton and Thorp churches. I was fully ordained in July 2009 and look forward to taking charge in September 2009 of Bolton, Calverley and Saltaire. I live with my wife Dee, Son and Grandson.
My heart is to encourage people to know Jesus and to live our lives, both individually and corporately, to his praise and glory. That as Christian communities we are called to share Jesus and his significance to our own life stories, both within and beyond the church.
Hi, I'm Clair Schofield the new administrator for the circuit. I am married to Simon and have two children Lily and Edward along with our cat Jemima. I have links with Wilsden Methodist United Reformed church and have had for most of my life. My hobbies include films and dramas, walking and being involved in school and toddler groups. I also run a small business in my spare time. Before coming to work for the circuit I was a full time mum but prior to that I was a PA for two Directors at Hallmark Cards in Heaton. When this opportunity arose I felt that my background in administration would really benefit the circuit and being part time I would not be missing out on Lily and Edward growing up. I am thoroughly enjoying the role.
Hello, I am Nicola Cameron, the New Finance Officer for the Circuit. I am married to Al, have two children Amy and Thomas.
Before coming to work for the Circuit I was a full time mum whose professional background was as a qualified accountant working for Hallmark Cards. In my spare time I am Chair Person of the Friends of Hawksworth C of E School, assistant for a Christian after school club, and at a tots group at Hawksworth Methodist Chapel, and an advisor on the Advisory Board of the Guiseley Children's Centre.
I would like to introduce myself as the new Circuit Treasurer.
My name is Clive Grimshaw, am married to Amanda and we have 2 sons, Mark who is studying at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh and James who is currently at home but has a place at Northumbria University in September.
I was brought up in a Methodist family, probably attending Church with Mum and Dad from being a couple of weeks old, attending Calverley Methodist Church where I became a member in the early 1970’s. Along with my brother Derek who is now a Methodist Minister in the Norwich Circuit we were involved with the Youth Fellowship at Calverley and were eventually persuaded to attend an MAYC weekend which really gave us a lot of inspiration. It was at an MAYC weekend I met Amanda and we were married at St. Andrew's, Undercliffe which is where my membership is held.
I was Church Treasurer at St. Andrews for about 7 years until a few years ago, have served as a Church Steward for 2 periods and am currently Chair of The Property Committee.
For work I am Office Manager at a small Heating and Ventilation company in Baildon who I have worked for, for over 20 years.
Within the context of our Christian faith, to have to look at the finance is generally a difficult subject, but as much as we want to go forward in faith, this is a subject that has to be addressed as without the money coming into the Churches and Circuit we are unable to fulfil our desire to spread God's word as fully as we would like to.
My name is Linda Atkin and I have been working as the pastoral visitor for elderly people in the old Bradford West Circuit. I am married to David and have 2 grown up children. My role is to visit older people who have been referred to me by the ministers and at present I visit approximately 60 people. I also am involved in an annual event which provides a “Holiday at Home” for our older people who are unable to go away and a monthly meeting called Tea and Talk. I look forward to getting to know you.
I am the Circuit Children’s worker and live in Baildon with my husband Neil and sons Daniel and Matthew and the latest addition to the family - Meg the border collie. Previously I was a nurse with a variety of experience from paediatric ward sister to district nursing. I love all things arty (as you will know if you have been part of an event I have organised) and I have a secret passion for engines and cars. I also love meeting up with friends for a laugh and a good old natter.
I have been asked to introduce myself to you all so here goes. I am 53 years old and have been married to Heather for 31years. We have two grown up sons and a very new grand daughter, called Connie. I retired from the police service in 2004 and have worked in SPCK bookshop in Bradford. I have been a local preacher for ten years in the Woodhouse Grove Circuit.
A Methodist since I started to walk, and a member of St Andrew’s, Undercliffe since 1968, I have been an accredited local preacher since 1983. I have been around for a while!
For 6 years I was a circuit steward in the former Woodhouse Grove circuit. I served as Ecumenical Officer for West Yorkshire Methodist District, which meant I was a member of the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (WYEC) for several years. I was youth club leader at St Andrew’s for 25 years, including a year as MAYC District President in 1987-8. I was a member of the Easter People Executive, and with my wife, Chrissie, I took part in 5 of Rob Frost’s Share Jesus missions. I am currently a member of the District Mission Enabling Team and Chairman of the Conistone Hostel Management Committee.
I was a civil servant in the Department of the Environment until retiring, aged 50, in 1997. I have worked as an administrative officer in Education Bradford since 2003 and am looking forward to retiring again in April 2012, when I shall be 65. I hope to get it right this time!
My interests include watching sport on TV (especially golf) and solving crossword puzzles.
Details to follow
Hello everyone, I’m David Hogg, aged 61. I live in Wilsden, and worship at Wilsden Methodist United Reformed Church, where I have been a Steward for several years. I am married to Diana, and have four grown up children, Clair, Christopher, Sarah and Matthew, who have blessed us with eight beautiful grandchildren. I am a self employed joiner, and my hobbies include crown green bowling, rugby league, gardening and walking, indeed, all outdoor sports and activities. I am looking forward in faith and anticipation to serving the 18 churches in the new Bradford North Circuit.
Married to Tom, two children and 9 grandchildren.
PA to Finance and Operations directors in national galvanizing company. Member at Wrose Methodist Church.
Local Preacher, Senior Circuit Steward, Member of District Grants
Committee, Church Council Secretary and Church Steward.
Favourite colour red.; Mad about Star Trek! Love to sing!
Although we have moved from Saltaire to Wilsden since coming to West Yorkshire seven years ago, we have not changed churches - we had made too many friends and become too involved at Saltaire to contemplate leaving. One daughter and grandson live now with us though worship at the Salvation Army. Our other daughter and grandson are about to move to Somerset whilst our son and his wife work across three continents and have homes in Nice and Edinburgh. Now retired, I was first a teacher then Education Officer at York Minster. I am still involved with children through Open the Book assemblies and working with schools visiting Bradford Cathedral. My other interests are visiting churches, historic buildings and art galleries, reading and photography. I also spend too much time researching my family tree.