Jo and Shahne moved from the Usk Valley to Christ Church in May 2002. They both have a distinctive but shared ministry. Jo has a passion to see worship reflect the creative nature of God, and for people to be inspired and equipped for living as followers of Christ in the whole of life. Jo is also a Foundation Governor on the Board of Governors at Christ Church Infant’s School.

Shahne works full time for the Gloucester Diocese as Schools’ Adviser. She is the author of numerous publications to support Values Education, Christian Assemblies and children’s spiritual development in schools (www.imaginor.co.uk). At Christ Church she heads up the Welcome Team.

Shahne and Jo have two grown children, Matthew and Angharad, along with two grandchildren and a wild Westie, Flora.

Likes: Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, early mornings at the gym, theatre.
Dislikes: Queues, crowds and concrete

Paul combines his role as Associate Minister at Christ Church with the oversight of Haslemere Ventures for teenagers. At Christ Church he leads Mission and Outreach Ministry, which includes Alpha and Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, he is also a Foundation Governor on the Board of Governors at Christ Church Junior School and he also chairs the PCC.

In the summer months he can often be found on the cricket pitch, whilst the odd half marathon often features as winter approaches. Paul and his family moved to Downend in January 2010, after eight years leading a church in Bradley Stoke.

Likes: A good curry and most sports.
Dislikes: Cold, wet winter evenings.

Chris is married to Anita, and they have two children, Susie and Jonathan.

He grew up in Uganda, where his father, John, taught New Testament Greek at Bishop Tucker Theological College. At the age of 10 he returned to the UK and went to school in Norwich. He studied English at Aberystwyth University, worked for a year in a youth centre in Liverpool, then trained at Wycliffe Hall.

Chris has worked in parishes in Rochester Diocese and Harare, Zimbabwe. For the last 8 years he was Bishop’s Adviser for Links in Rochester Diocese and vicar of St Andrew’s church, Paddock Wood, Kent.

He is currently Ecumenical and Global Partnership Officer for Bristol Diocese.

Likes: Walking in the hills, African birds and climbing.

Andy is married to Denise and they have four children and nine grandchildren (another due in December). He grew up in North Nibley and moved to Bristol in 1966. Andy is retired from British Rail where he was a Senior Conductor. Andy is kept busy by his current roles as Church Warden and Deanery Synod Rep and also he also has a passion for helping people in the community. We don’t know where he finds the time but Andy also volunteers at the Wild Goose Drop-In Centre feeding the homeless and as a Street Pastor in Kingswood spending time helping anyone out late at night.

Likes:  Gardening, watching old films, USB radio and watching sport in general.
Dislikes:  Loud music, queues and waiting for buses.

Roger was born in the West Midlands and moved to Wells in Somerset in 1969 to take up an apprenticeship with a local electronics company.  He studied electrical and electronic engineering at the Universities of Bath and Birmingham.  He moved to Bristol in 1978 to work in the aerospace industry, and in 1981 he met his wife, Lynne.  They were married in 1983 at Christ Church Clifton and have two grown up daughters.

Roger retired in 2010 and the family moved from Bishopston to Downend in 2012.  He is kept busy renovating their Victorian house, visiting heritage steam railways and making new friends in Downend.

Likes: Music, playing the piano, DIY, model railways and cycling.

Dislikes: Beetroot, traffic jams and litter.

Elissa recently got married to Keith – she grew up in Downend and attended Christ Church for many years. She has worked in France, studied in London, run two successful businesses in Wales and is now back! She is fluent in French and Spanish and enjoys playing the piano. Elissa briefly returned to Bristol in between to complete her Master’s Degree (MSc) in Information Technology.

She has a son and daughter (grown up!)  and is looking forward to spending more time using her VW Type 2 Camper van, travelling with her husband Keith, and creating stained glass.

Likes: VW Camper vans, doing crafts of any kind, especially stained glass , music and playing the piano.
Dislikes: Housework and gluten (as a coeliac sufferer).

Nigel and Belinda moved to Bristol in 2011 from Surrey; they have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Before taking early retirement Nigel was European Sales Director for a building products manufacturer, he has served on the board of several Christian organisations and missions and in a number of Church leadership roles. He is currently a trustee of The Willow Tree Centre in Yate which supports those who have experienced the loss of a baby or an unintended pregnancy.

Nigel’s passion is to see people grow in their faith whether through the ministries of discipleship, home group or preaching.

When not at home Nigel and Belinda may be found looking after grandchildren in Downend or Portsmouth, wandering the Pembrokeshire coastal path, or visiting those “one day we must….” places around the world they’ve never seen.

Likes: Tidiness, mountains, Spanish omelette, peregrine falcons, the sound of running water (but not through the ceiling)
Dislikes: Airport security, beetroot, traffic jams, on-line banking, remembering passwords, things that don’t work, trying to fix the things that don’t work

Helen is a follower of Christ, a mum and a youth worker with a passion for fun and communication. After 2 years leading the Creative Media team at Christ Church, she is now heading up our Children’s Ministry.

Helen is also taking a lead in our monthly Messy Church along with Anita Dobson, and is on the team who do our Baptism preparation classes.

Helen has three lovely children and loves camping and entertaining. Originally she trained as a languages teacher (communication has always mattered to her), she is one of the team who Tweet and post on social media for Christ Church. Helen joined Christ Church in 2006, when she moved to Bristol.

Helen loves being with people and she loves worship. And the best of all is worship with other people!

Kathy is married to Dave and they have two children. As a family they have been active members of Christ Church for many years. Having left her employment as a social worker, Kathy has worked for Christ Church Downend as Pastoral Coordinator/Parish safeguarding Officer (2013-2015), Head of Ministry of Wholeness, Pastoral Care, Safeguarding (2015-June 2017) and is currently a Chaplain with specific ministry in local sheltered/residential homes and links into local hospitals. Kathy is passionate about the healing and wholeness God generously provides for us and in our relationships; every act of love, gratitude, kindness; every act of equity, justice; every act of prayer in God’s Spirit for healing brokenness, finds its way through God’s power into the new creation God will one day make and fulfil; this is our seed of confidence in every day. We live with hope even in the darkest hour.

Kathy also has an active Spiritual Direction ministry within the Bristol, Gloucestershire and Bath and Wells Dioceses.

Likes: reading, walking, gardening, theatre productions, films, art, music, particularly our children’s musical talents, coastal walks/scenery, camping, ‘catch up’ times with friends and family, holidays in Cornwall.
Dislikes: crowded buses, trains or tube trains!

Anita works part time heading up the ministry of discipleship for all ages, which means encouraging people wherever they are on the journey of faith, to take a next step. We seek to equip and inspire both individuals and families to grow one step closer to the God who loves them.

In her spare time she sings a lot and walks the dog, sometimes at the same time.

Likes: Singing.
Dislikes: Vinegar – the smell!

Diane is married to Jamie, whom she met whilst watching Bristol Rovers at Twerton Park. Diane cared for patients in Frenchay Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, before leaving nursing for the best job in the world of becoming full time mum to Luke and Joshua.

Diane puts her faith into action by serving in a variety of voluntary roles within the community, not least as Youth Worker. She enjoys sharing quality time with family and friends and has recently taken up playing piano, though is not quite up to the standard of the Christ Church worship band…… yet!

Likes: Music, holidays and seeing all people from the youngest to the eldest; living life to the full.
Dislikes: Litter and injustice; but is not afraid to tackle either!

Charlie enjoys spending time with her husband Mark and two children, running and walking their dog.  She is a home loving mum who is passionate about children having the best start in life.  She loves working with children and seeing them learn and wonder about the amazing world God has given us, and Charlie is on our Connected Children’s team on Sundays.

Charlie is our Assistant Parish Administrator. She is usually in the Parish Office on Thursdays and Fridays.

Jane has been a member of Christ Church for the last 12 years apart from a break of a few years while living in Trowbridge.  Jane believes that she was conned by some very, very good friends to go on an Alpha Supper but found much to her surprise that she really did get it. Apparently it took Jane a while but she found it really was so easy to accept Jesus into her life and to keep him there. Jane says that being a Christian and a member of Christ Church has changed her and changed her life.  She loves being the Christians Against Poverty Centre Manager in North East Bristol and feels that this role has given her life real purpose.

Contact Jane janewhite@capuk.org or call 0753 090 0957 to discuss in confidence any personal financial issues you may be facing.

Likes: my sons, my friends, chocolate, reading, patchwork and quilting.
Dislikes:  brussel sprouts, loan companies, sprouts, more sprouts and broccoli.

Dave is married to Barbara and has been a member of Christ Church Downend for over 50 years.  They have three children and four grandchildren.  He has held many ‘behind the scenes’ roles in the church, including serving as church warden for four years.

After retiring from the Police Service in 1994 he has been able to devote more time to his passion of working with wood, and ‘Learning to Live the Life.’

He is a good listener.

Likes: Family, walking, travel, good design and creating things made of wood.

Dislikes: Broken things and things that don’t work!

Andy was born a stone’s throw away from Christ Church Downend where he was baptised and confirmed at eighteen so he is a real local lad. Andy is the Verger and he relishes spreading the word in and around the parish. Always taking time out to listen to anyone with a problem.

Andy is married to Ruth who was church warden and is now the church’s sacristan.

Likes: Cooking, anything from sushi to beef wellington.
Dislikes: TV advertisements!!! and semolina pudding (bad school memories!!!)