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, during which time he served as Student Assistant at East Plumstead (SE London) and Student Pastor at Hadleigh (Essex).
After Ordination he was minister at Bilborough Baptist Church Nottingham
from 1989-95 before coming to Seven Kings.
In 1998 Brian completed the Certificate in Pastoral Counselling under
the Roehampton Institute, getting a Distinction.
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.
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.
Brian has recently served as interim moderator for Leytonstone United Free Church., and is now serving at Ashurst Drive Baptist Church as well as serving on the URC District Pastoral Committee, representing the Baptist Union on the Ecumenical "Family and Personal Relationships Committee", and acting as a Mentor for Newly Accredited Baptist Ministers. He is Vice Chair of Governors at Farnham Green Primary School (one of the two primary schools in the Church's locality), and contributes to the 'Spiritual life' column of the Ilford Recorder.
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 almost completed further studies (including an MA in Pastoral Theology), for formal ordination in the URC. She has so far completed the ministerial studies, 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 Assisatant Pastor at the end of September 2002, following the birth of baby Stuart in July 2002, and will next take up ministry after finishing off her studies & being ordained as a URC Minister, hopefully in early 2004.
Clare’s hobbies are many and various - she just wishes she had time to do some of them
