He attended Lindsay Park Baptist Church, and after a rebellious childhood was baptized there aged 13.
He studied Biochemistry at UMIST (Manchester), before entering medical research in Endocrinology at Hope Hospital Eccles (nr Manchester), where he gained an MSc by Thesis.
The call to Ministry took him to Spurgeon's College, for 4 years of theology and practical training, where he gained a BA Hons Degree (Upper Second) and during which time he served as Student Assistant at East Plumstead (SE London) and Student Pastor at Hadleigh Baptist Church (Essex).
After Ordination he was minister at Bilborough Baptist Church Nottingham from 1989-95 before coming to Seven Kings.
Brian's first sabbatical (in 1997) was spent back at Spurgeon's doing a condensed version of the "Church Planting and Evangelism" course then on offer. He was then involved with the URC District Mission Advisory Panel. His second involved Mediaiton Training, Myers Briggs profiling and some travel.
In 1998 Brian completed the Certificate in Pastoral Counseling under
the Roehampton Institute, getting a Distinction. and upgraded this to a Diploma in
2006 (Accredited by Middlesex University).
He uses his skills for the benefit of
church and community, and is a regular volunteer on the Spring Harvest
Pastoral Team.
Brian is a member of the 'Bridge Builders' mediator's network having trained in personal and congregational mediation with the London Mennonite Centre, and offers these skills to churches and individuals seeking to transform conflict into positive and productive relationships, or simply seeking to work towards consensus on contentious issues.
Brian's hobbies include Cycling, Rock Climbing and Motor Racing. He's a graduate of the Nigel Mansell Racing School at Brand's Hatch and goes back from time to time to drive their Formula Audi single seaters, & try to beat his best lap time. In 2004 he reached the semi-final of the National Karting Association Hire Kart Championship. He's still looking for a half-decent rock face to climb in London or Essex :-)
Brian's greatest love is seeing people come to know Christ for themselves, and growing in their relationship with him.
Brian is District Chaplain to the Redbridge District of the Girls Brigade and to the Redbridge & Waltham Forest Battalion of the Boys Brigade, and takes a keen interest in Youth and particularly the development of Young Leaders. He was a member of the Baptist Union "Children's Working Group" which drew up the first edition of "Safe to Grow" (Child protection policy). For several years he was Vice Chair of Governors at Farnham Green Primary School (one of the two primary schools in the Church's locality), and is currently a community governor at Downshall Primary School. He represented the Baptist Union on the Ecumenical "Family and Personal Relationships Committee" until it's closure in 2005.
Brian is the URC Borough Dean to the London Borough of Redbridge, and contributes to the 'Spiritual life' column of the Ilford Recorder.. He is involved with Redbridge Council Area 5 Committee where he has served as a co-opted member, and is part of the Seven Kings Safer Neighbourhood working group.
He served as interim moderator for Leytonstone
United Free Church., and Goodmayes URC church, and most recently at
Ashurst
Drive Baptist Church as well as serving on the URC District Pastoral
Committee.
Brian also acts as a Mentor for Newly Accredited Baptist Ministers.
She came to faith at an early age, and felt the call of God on her life. Her faith was very much deepened by her school Christian Fellowship, and from that time, has always appreciated the family of the world-wide Church. Her greatest thrill has always been seeing people come to know the Lord.
She studied Psychology at Manchester University (the real one!), and
met Brian while working on a playscheme at the Church he was attending.
She then went on to volunteer for the ‘Time for God’ scheme, working
as a residential youth worker in a YMCA. She has also worked as a Minister's
assistant in a United Reformed Church, and as a Church & Community
Worker at the Grove
Centre Church, in Sydenham.
Brian & Clare met in Manchester & married in 1987. They have three children, and a goldfish.
Clare trained for ministry at Manchester Christian Institute between 1989-93, on a part-time course, writing her dissertation on the spirituality of under 5’s. She has completed further studies (including an MA in Pastoral Theology), for formal ordination in the URC. Her studies included, doing a placement at Leytonstone United Free Church, and an extended MA placement with the Chaplaincy team at HMP Chelmsford. Her interest in prison ministry continues, looking at the concept of Community Chaplaincy, which seeks to resettle people coming out of prison into the community, for her MA dissertation, which she completed in November 2003
For the first seven and a half years of their time in Seven Kings, Brian & Clare shared the ministry at SKUFC, with Clare in the role of Assistant Pastor, whilst also preparing for ordination in the URC. Clare stood down from the role of Assistant Pastor at the end of September 2002, following the birth of baby Stuart in July 2002, and took up ministry again in June 2004 when she was Ordained in the URC and inducted to the pastorate of Highams Park United Reformed Church.
Clare's hobbies are many and various - she just wishes she had time to do some of them
