In Depth:  people

A well-known conservative evangelical minister in the Church of England has resumed ministry in London.

Paul Williams, who was vicar of Christ Church, Fulwood, in Sheffield, resigned after a ‘visitation’ commissioned by two bishops at the invitation of the Church Council and Mr Williams himself (en, October 2021, September 2022).

A leading conservative evangelical minister is moving from the south coast to Bromley.

Mark Redhouse, who is currently vicar of All Souls, Eastbourne, is set to become vicar of Christ Church Bromley, where he succeeds Iain Broomfield.

Fred Drummond, the director of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland, is leaving his role this summer, it has been announced.

Gavin Calver, CEO of EAUK, said: ‘Fred has been instrumental in leading the team in Scotland and has played an invaluable role on the leadership team; providing support for the leadership and wider team, engaging with our members, and inspiring us with his prayerfulness, wisdom and prophetic insight during his 17 and a half years on the staff team.’

John Samuel has been appointed as the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) director for Hampshire and Dorset. He will work to support churches and church leaders in the area, and look to strengthen relationships between local congregations.

Samuel has extensive experience as a pastor, having served as the pastor of Duke Street Church, Richmond, London, before retiring to Southampton last year, and becomes the latest addition to a growing team of local directors at FIEC.

Luke Randall

The funeral of evangelical bishop Colin Buchanan, who died aged 89, took place in late January.

Born on 8 August 1934, the former Church of England bishop and academic was brought up in London, before studying Literae Humaniores (classics) at Lincoln College, Oxford (later promoted to a Masters degree).

Luke Randall

Roger Forster, the founder of Ichthus Christian Fellowship, has died aged 90.

A husband to Faith and father to three children, he was a well-respected theologian, best known for founding the neo-charismatic Ichthus Christian Fellowship in 1974.

Iain Taylor

Glowing tributes were paid to Jeremy Marshall at his thanksgiving service that was held at St Helen’s Bishopsgate just before Christmas.

Rico Tice said he had been giving eulogies for Christians for 30 years and had never called anyone great before. But Jeremy was unquestionably a great man, an exceptional model of integrity in four key areas. Firstly his courage, for he never gave up. Secondly his compassion, for he always worked to bring comfort to others; whether they be refugees from Ukraine or those, such as fellow cancer-sufferers, who benefited from the understanding and empathy he offered in his various books. Thirdly his clarity, for his incisive mind was built on a sub-surface iceberg of deep theological knowledge. And finally, his unquenchable optimism. He loved living in the United States, with its immense can-do spirit, and for Jeremy no issue or problem was ever insoluble – apart from the on-field performances of his beloved Watford FC.

Luke Randall

Dr Graham Shearer has been appointed as a Lecturer in Theology at Union Theological College (UTC).

He takes up the role with a range of academic experience; he holds an MA in History achieved at the University of Cambridge, as well as a BA in Theological and Pastoral Studies from Oak Hill Theological College. He has also served with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) and as a pastor.

Luke Randall

Dave Newton has been appointed as the new Scripture Union (SU) National Director for England and Wales. He is currently the Principal of Regents Theological College and the Director of Training for Elim UK.

He told the SU website: ‘I’m hugely excited to be joining Scripture Union, with its long heritage of helping children and young people discover the good news of the Bible. I can’t wait to help this vibrant movement grow and develop the vital work it’s doing to help the church reveal Jesus to the 95.’ Dave will replace Myles MacBean, who has served in the role for five years and will officially step down in March.

James Dudley-Smith writes: Tony was an evangelical statesman in the Church of England, a lifelong preacher and lecturer, pastor and servant of Christ.

After Oxford University and then Clifton Theological College, Bristol, he served curacies at St Ebbe’s in Oxford, and Welling near Bexleyheath. He was vicar of Redland in Bristol 1970–1979 during which time he was part of the lecturing staff at Tyndale Hall and then Trinity College Bristol, where he was Director of Ministry and Mission. He was vicar of Christ Church Beckenham 1979–93, and vicar of Bishop Hannington Hove 1994– 2003 before retirement to Eastbourne.

Luke Randall

Stuart Burgess has helped to design bikes for the British Olympic Cycling Team for the last ten years. He was brought up in a non-Christian home, but came to faith over 30 years ago during his first year at university.

In an interview with en, Stuart spoke about his experiences of working with the Olympic Cycling Team, and Christians in sport in general. Stuart has worked with Team GB for ten years. When asked what it is like to work in that environment, he said: ‘My involvement has been to lead the design of the chain transmission drive for three Olympics: Rio, Tokyo, and Paris.

Luke Randall

He was shot twice through the helmet while ‘leap-frogging from tree to tree’ in a battle with the Japanese, won a Military Cross, and subsequently became a church minister – finally dying recently at the grand age of 103.

Now tributes have been paid to brave soldier and long-standing believer Joe Mullins, who won one of the last Military Crosses of World War Two for displaying heroic bravery in the retaking of a Burmese village from Japanese enemies.

Milla Ling-Davies

A former gambler turned evangelist is planning his next mission at the age of 79.

As a young man, Fane Conant bet on horses every day and spent his Saturdays in the casino. After meeting some Christian sportsmen in his twenties and seeing they ‘had something’ he didn’t, he gave his life to Christ – but it took a decade for him to finally stop gambling.

Luke Randall

Carl Knightly has been appointed as the new leader of the City Mission Movement (CMM) UK and Ireland.

CMM was founded in 1991 and exists to support the 18 City Missions across the UK and Ireland. City Missions work to serve their cities and take the gospel to the people of their cities across the country.

Luke Randall

Johnny Prime will become the new Director for London of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). He will succeed Trevor Archer in the post in February 2024.

An FIEC statement said Johnny will look to strengthen relationships with other evangelical church networks in London and also aim to recruit a team of gospel workers to support FIEC’s work in the city.

Luke Randall

Chris Wigram has been announced by trustees as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections (GC). He started in the post in late November, having previously served as GC’s Chair of Global Conventions between 2006 and 2008, and also as a board member. Chris has also served in leadership positions with OMF and ECM.

Global Connections is made up of several organisations and individuals including churches and charities, as well as others. It exists to support the UK church’s mission community at home and abroad.

Luke Randall

David Pytches, the evangelical former Anglican Bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, and vicar at St Andrews, Chorleywood, has died aged 92. He leaves behind his wife Mary and their four daughters.

Ordained as a vicar in 1955, David and Mary became missionaries and moved to South America in 1959. Having started their work in Chile, David was ordained as the Bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, and served in that role before returning to the UK in 1977.

Nicola Laver

London City Mission’s chief executive Graham Miller and his wife Alison are recovering after an assault in Earlsfield. Their daughter witnessed the attack.

Miller said they were assaulted after he ‘challenged some kids for abusing a cafe manager next to the station’. He tweeted: ‘We were both punched repeatedly in the head from behind and Alison was knocked down. Kids were still hitting her whilst on the floor and passers-by had to tear them off.’

Luke Randall

Former Scripture Union (SU) Scotland CEO Andy Bathgate died on 17 October, aged 68. He leaves his wife Alyson, with whom he shared over 40 years of marriage, and his three daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren. He died peacefully at home.

Andy was the CEO of SU Scotland from 2001 to 2020, having volunteered with SU since his teens. He was also the Scottish team leader for UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship) and was a founding member of CVE (Christian Values in Education) Scotland, serving as its Chair from its inception in 2014 until his retirement from the role in 2022.

Richard Coekin is stepping down as Senior Pastor at Dundonald Church and Mission Director of Co-Mission in 2024 to pursue a ‘new season’ of ‘ministry, training and equipping church leaders’. 

Coekin has ‘faithfully and courageously served’, declared a statement from the trustees of the Co-Mission Churches Trust, Co-Mission Initiative Trust and the Dundonald Church Governing Elders.

Iain Taylor

Jeremy Marshall, who died recently aged 60, was a rare specimen: a committed evangelical Christian with a high public profile in both the secular and Christian media.

Many encountered him through the myriad Christian organisations with which he was involved, or within the higher echelons of the banking industry, both in the UK and overseas. But I came to know Jeremy through his parish ministry, after he and his wife Jeanette joined the leadership team at St Nicholas, Sevenoaks, the church plant our family had started to attend.

Milla Ling-Davies

After spending 37 years in ministry, John Samuel, Senior Minister of Duke Street Church, Richmond Upon Thames retired this July.

John entered pastoral ministry having first trained and worked as a solicitor in his 20s. After undertaking a theology degree, he served as a pastor in Dublin of Grosvenor Road Baptist Church for 19 years, and in London with Duke Street Church for 11 years.

Milla Ling-Davies

Donna Jennings has stepped down as the Church and Mission Co-ordinator for the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland. She is leaving to pursue a PHD with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. 

In her role, Donna sought to equip the church in Northern Ireland to be strategic, creative and bold as they proclaimed the gospel. She served faithfully for four years as the world experienced the challenges of the pandemic, several global humanitarian refugee crises, and the cost-of-living crisis. She wrote several mission resources for the church during this time, including Walk, Pray, Talk a resource to encourage small groups and prayer walks. One church leader who used this said that it had catalysed their church into missional concern for the local area.

Nicola Laver

After two previous attempts – thwarted by Covid-19 and then ill-health – the church at Hillfields, Coventry has been able to mark the 2020 retirement of Paul Watts, who was pastor for 35 years.

On 13 May, 160 people marked Paul’s service with an evening of thanksgiving and celebration with home-cooked Indian curry, shared reflections, a presentation, and an epilogue. The theme throughout the evening was to give the glory to God for Paul and his wife, Hazel who remain as members.

Nicola Laver

John Dunnett has been appointed the new national director for the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), taking over from Bishop Keith Sinclair who retired in April.

Dunnett said: ‘My passion is to see the gospel of Jesus shared with people from every background and from every corner of our nation. In order for this to happen, my prayer is for CEEC to contend for Biblical orthodoxy in the Church of England and hold fast to our historic teaching and doctrines.’

Reformed evangelical training college Oak Hill is looking forward to the arrival of a new Principal in the autumn.

James Robson, an experienced leader and theologian, is taking up the role and will be leaving his current post as Ministry Director at Keswick Ministries in September.

Mae’r Gynghrair Efengylaidd yn llawn gwefr o gyhoeddi y bydd Tim Rowlands yn ymuno â thîm y staff fel pennaeth y Gynghrair Efengylaidd yng Nghymru o’r 1af o Ebrill, i gynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru yn ei chenhadaeth leol ac i fynd â’i llais i’r gymdeithas ehangach ac i’r llywodraeth.

Cymeradwyodd Gavin Calver, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol y Gynghrair Efengylaidd, y penodiad gan ddweud: ‘Rwyf wrth fy modd bod Tim am ymuno â ni i wasanaethu a chynorthwyo’r eglwys yng Nghymru. Mae’n arweinydd eglwys profiadol sy’n gwybod drosto’i hun sut y gall yr eglwys ymgysylltu’n wleidyddol ac yn ddiwylliannol yng Nghymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at wasanaethu gydag ef ac at weld Duw yn symud yn nerthol ledled cenedl Cymru.’

Nicola Laver

The Revd Dr Paul Bailie, Presbyterian minister, lecturer and lover of Africa, died unexpectedly on 15 November 2023, just days after turning 54.

He was ordained by the Presbyterian Church of Ireland (PCI) in 1995; and from 2007 he had been chief executive of Mission Africa, one of the oldest interdenominational evangelical missions in the UK. He had recently joined the ICC Executive Committee representing the Presbyterian Church.

Nicola Laver

Assistant Minister at St Nick’s Church, Cole Abbey in the heart of London, Mikey Williams died aged 32 on 8 November – just weeks after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

The church said that throughout his illness, ‘even in varying degrees of consciousness, Mikey’s hope in Jesus remained steadfastly sure’. He had ‘enthusiastically shared the good news of the gospel with the great many healthcare workers and other people he met… We grieve with great assurance that Mikey is now with the Lord in glory’.

Valerie Griffiths (1933–2022), a gifted Bible teacher, scholar and advocate for women in the church and mission, went to be with the Lord on 5 December 2022.

Valerie worked with OMF (formerly known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship) for 23 years, first in Japan and later in Singapore, alongside her late husband Michael, who died in January 2022. Michael served as General Director between 1969 and 1980.

Iain Taylor

Joel Edwards has died from cancer aged 70. The first black man to lead the Evangelical Alliance (EA), he leaves behind an inspiring legacy of unity in diversity, social engagement and Christ-centred service.

After serving as a probation officer and as a pastor in east London, Joel became the General Secretary of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, where he worked to show the transforming power of Christ in communities, bring predominantly black churches together, and build bridges between the organisation and UK churches.