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Meet the Team

Interregnum. (Rev'd Peter Bates will take up the post from September 2012)
Leader for the Morning Congregation

Our new leader, Rev'd Peter Bates, from the Methodist Church will be joining us from September 2012

In the meantime, the Church remains very active and is being led by the Church Elders and Church Council.
Reverend Paul Newman
Catholic Priest

Father Paul Newman is the Parish Priest of St Alban's in Chaddesden and is responsible for the Catholics at The Church on Oakwood.

Father Paul was formerly Parish Priest at Bulwell in Nottingham. Prior to that he was Assistant to Fr Neil McLaughlin at St Joseph's in Derby and spent 5 years as the Director of The Briars Youth Centre and Diocesan Youth Service.

He is a native of Eastwood and went to St John Houghton School.
Deacon Rosemary Bell
Supernumerary Minister

I am an ordained Methodist deacon and find this ecumenical Church rewarding and challenging. Although retired from active ministry I appreciate being part of its worship, fellowship and witness, wherever and whenever appropriate.
Steve Judd
Worship Leader

Steve is a Derbiean born and bred and has been a Christian for over 30 yrs. Brought up in Littleover he married and moved to Oakwood in 1983 under Gods guidance. Steve can still remember Oakwood when most of it was fields! Together with his wife Carol they prayed for nearly 3 years for the Church hierarchy to act and buy one of the rapidly reducing plots of land and plant a Church. This prayer came to ahead, as so many of our hopes do, when we get up and start to act under God's guidance.

On traveling back to worship in Littleover every week Steve and Carol passed 11 Churches. The number shocked them. A decision was made to move back to Littleover. But God had other ideas. Within a week a knock came on the door and there stood Deaconess Mavis Bexon who’d been appointed as Oakwood’s first ‘Minister’. She invited Steve and Carol to a meeting at her house at which ‘The Church on Oakwood’ was born. 6 weeks later the first service was held in her living room at 11 Appledore Drive on Pentecost Sunday 1986 and 60 people turned up for a baptism! The rest as they say is history.

Steve has served as an Elder on 3 separate occasions, been Chair and Vice Chair of the ‘Church Council’ and Chair of the ‘Ecumenical Church Council’. He’s represented the Church both internally and externally on many bodies. Steve and Carol have 2 adult daughters and Steve has many other interests including watching Derby County, Burton Albion and Derby Rugby club, cycling and motorcycling, playing the Bass, railways and hiking.
Hazel Ellison
Worship Leader

I have been a worship leader at the Church on Oakwood since I completed a course in 2004. Prior to that, as a member of New Life, I often planned and led Prayer and Praise sessions both in our Church and at other places.

Being a worship leader means that the planned Minister/preacher can use you to lead any and all parts of the service apart from preaching the sermon. I therefore have read the lessons, introduced the hymns/songs, led the prayers and been involved in various other activities often with the children and congregation participating.

I enjoy taking part in leading worship and am usually willing to offer my services when required.
Steve Green
Worship Leader
Chris Marshall
Elder

I have been worshipping at the Church on Oakwood for almost 20 years - ever since my home was visited by carol singers inviting my wife and I to join the congregation at the Convent at Christmas. This visit was very timely - we had only moved into Oakwood a week earlier. It is because of this and the many blessings we have received since, that we believe that God has called us to serve Him in Oakwood.

I have been looking after the music at the church for some time, leading an enthusiastic group of musicians and singers. We play all kinds of music, from traditional through to the most modern.

I am involved in the cafe-style meetings (Rolling Stone Cafe) which are held in the church 3-4 times each year. Anybody is welcome to drop in and listen to live music and poems, watch drama and eat cakes, in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

My church background is Roman Catholic and my wife's background is United Reformed Church. So the Church on Oakwood, being ecumenical, is the right place where our teenage family can all worship together and be involved in this welcoming and vibrant church.
Mick Bentley
Methodist Local Preacher & Elder

I am a Methodist Local Preacher and lead services not only at The Church On Oakwood but also around the Derby Methodist Circuit.  I am married with two children.  We have been worshiping here since 1998 when we moved from Doncaster.  I am currently serving as an Elder.
Sheila Harper
Elder/Church Warden

I started worshipping at The Church on Oakwood in 1994, and am involved with children’s activities. Since 1997, I have been a leader in Sparklers, a group which provides Bible based activities for 3-6 year olds during the Sunday morning service. I also assisted in setting up, and for several years helped to run, Pray and Play which is held once a month for the under fives and their parent/carer.

In 2008, a group of us, keen for primary aged children to hear stories from the Bible, formed an Open the Book team. We now visit two local schools on a weekly/fortnightly basis with up to 10 members of the church undertaking this very enjoyable and rewarding outreach. I also visit families on the anniversary of their child’s baptism.

I have served on the Church Council since 2004, and in 2010 became an Elder and Church Warden. I am married with a grown up son and teenage daughter.
Christina Williamson
Lay Reader/Preacher

I was born in Belfast and at the age of 14 became a Sunday School teacher to a lively bunch of 9 year olds as well as being actively involved in Youth for Christ in particular working with children who lived across the divide in East Belfast.

In 1986, I moved to England, first to Tangmere, Sussex, then Colchester, Stratford-Upon-Avon and then to Henley in Arden. In 1994 whilst living in Henley I was called to be a Reader and in 1996 I was licensed to the Diocese of Coventry.

In 1999, I moved up to Derby and was re-licensed to the Diocese of Derby in 2001. I initially worked with the Rev. Tony Luke in Allenton/Shelton Lock as well as being part of the fellowship at Borrowash Methodist church. I was invited to join the Methodist East Derby district taking services throughout the circuit. In 2004, I moved to Oakwood and enjoy taking services at Oakwood given its ecumenical freedom and style of worship. I work full-time and I am married to Andrew.
Susan Lewis
Eucharistic Minister

Susan is a member of the Roman Catholic congregation. She lives in Oakwood with her husband and has two grown up children.

Susan leads the regular Wednesday evening Service of the Word celebtation.

 
Gwynne Shaw
Child Protection Advisor/Church Warden

The Church on Oakwood takes every reasonable means to ensure the welfare of children. I have undertaken training with the Police and Probation Services, in my capacity as Child Protection Advisor, and have delivered training in the Notts, Leics and Derby districts. We follow the Diocesan guidelines on procedures and good practice on Safeguarding.