BRISTOL BAPTIST COLLEGE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- College Administrator
- College Administrator / Associate Lecturers
Job Titles:
- Archivist
- Librarian
- Support Staff Member
Catherine joined the team in 2023. She is a qualified librarian and Chartered Member of CILIP, the Library and Information Association. Currently, she is the Secretary to the CILIP South West Member Network, which represents the interests of library and information professionals across the region. Previously, she has been Vice Chair and Chair of the Committee.
She gained her librarianship qualification from UCL, having previously studied English Language and Literature at Lancaster University and English Language at the University of Oxford.
Catherine's library experience includes both academic and public libraries, but began her library life in specialist research libraries and archives, so she holds great affection for the historical collections here at Bristol Baptist College.
Though Catherine currently live in Cheltenham, she will always be a ‘Lancashire lass'.
Job Titles:
- Tutor in Mission and Director of the Centre for Anabaptist Studies
Stuart Murray Williams spent 12 years as an urban church planter in East London and has continued to be involved in church planting as a trainer, mentor, writer, strategist and consultant. For 9 years he was Oasis Director of Church Planting and Evangelism at Spurgeon's College, London. Since then, under the auspices of the Anabaptist Network, he has worked as a trainer and consultant, with particular interest in urban mission, church planting and emerging forms of church. He is the founder of Urban Expression. He has written books on church planting, urban mission, emerging church, the challenge of post-Christendom and the Anabaptist tradition.
Research Interests:
The theory and practice of church planting, Anabaptist history and theology and urban missiology. He is currently researching the life and writings of a sixteenth-century German Anabaptist.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Support Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Director
- Teaching Staff Member
- Coordinator of Theological Education by
- Executive Director of the Centre
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- Support Staff Member
Before joining the college in November 2023, Howard was Regional Learning and Development Coordinator (South West) for the Methodist Church Learning Network. Prior to that his career had largely focussed on work with challenging young people having qualified as a teacher and youth worker at S Martin's College, Lancaster. He has worked for the YMCA, the Connexions Service and with young offenders both in a motor project alternative to custody and as Restorative Justice and Supervision Manager in a youth offending service. In 2016 he developed the Avon and Somerset Young Victims' Service supporting young people affected by crime and antisocial behaviour.
Alongside his professional career, Howard was a founding director of South Bristol Youth - a charity seeking to improve outcomes for young people in the more deprived areas of the city. He has been a charity trustee for such as Bristol Education Action Zone, and for Horfield Methodist Church. He is an active member of the Faith Communities Major Emergency Plan, supporting civil authorities and emergency services during significant incidents and representing the place of faith at these times.
He is a qualified kayak coach, first aid trainer and mental health first aid trainer, which is a particular passion.
Howard is an active Methodist Local Preacher within the Bristol and South Gloucestershire circuit with a strong commitment to biblical social justice and God's concern for those excluded from society. He is a self confessed nerd with interests around modern technology and the role it can play in supporting and enhancing worship and church organisation. He is a firm believer in the need for good pastoral care for all.
He lives with his two large dogs who take up a lot of his time, including their obedience training and dog agility and their need for ‘walkies'. When not doing that he plays piano and organ and enjoys time with close friends.
Job Titles:
- Our Research Fellows Include, but Are Not Limited to
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Audit & Risk Committee Co - Opted
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Finance Committee Co - Opted
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Course Administrator
After studying Drama and English at Bristol University, Rebecca worked in Radio and Print journalism before deciding to take her LLAM Diploma through the London Academy of Dramatic Art (Lamda), to pursue a teaching career. Now working as a communication coach, her role is to work alongside children and adults, helping them to find and use their voices appropriately and effectively in their respective contexts. Rebecca has worked in schools, businesses and in Adult Training and really enjoys identifying the needs of every individual and then enabling them to explore their full potential as a public speaker. She is also an Adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, and on the team of examiners for Lamda Communication and Performance Exams.
Rebecca is firmly convinced that everyone has a ‘voice' that can and should be used with impact in a public context.
"At Bristol Baptist College I really enjoy the length of time that I have to get to know every student and then work alongside them, so that whatever their personality and calling, I am able to support them in engaging with their vocal potential, and then draw on it creatively and confidently in their future role."
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Children
- Coordinator of Children, Youth and Families
Clare is a professionally trained youth worker who, in latter years, has discovered the playful world of children, youth and families. She holds an MA in Professional Practice and Practical Theology (Spirituality and Well-Being) and has a wealth of experience that informs her teaching methods and content.
Clare is passionate about seeing God at work in the lives of children and youth and is an advocate for hearing the voice of and facilitating the participation of children in all areas of our lives.
As an ordained Baptist Minister (Youth Specialist), and Regional Minister representing Children, Youth and Families for SCBA, Clare understand the difficulties and the fruit that can come from including children in our conversations. Clare is always thinking outside the box when it come to creative teaching methods and this is reflected in her teaching.
Clare is also the Chair for Children, Youth and Family for the Round Table, she holds Spiritual Child training and is trauma informed. She is an active member promoting change and inclusion for children, youth, and families in her local council, schools and churches.
Job Titles:
- Teaching Staff Member
- College Principal
Eleanor is Minister of Chudleigh Baptist Church and co-ordinator of the Exeter hub where the ministerial formation programme has been offered from September 2021 to those living in the South West, at greater distance from Bristol. Before this, Eleanor was acting as chaplain and tutor at College from January 2021.
Before training for Baptist ministry, Eleanor worked in the University sector as Study Abroad officer, International Partnership officer and manager of the MEd programme for Exeter University.
Eleanor is married and has 3 boys. The family live in Chudleigh, Devon.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Community Learning
Lindsay is passionate about discipleship, encouraging missional networks throughout the region, developing missional-leaders, mentoring, and facilitating a supportive learning community of local pioneer-planters. She is currently exploring a new church-plant in her community as well as a pioneering a faith centred horticultural-based project at a local medical surgery.
She has experience of pastoring within several churches (ranging in membership from 80-400), as well as experience of being part of a small rural chapel. Whilst in pastorate, she was involved in initiating several pioneering projects.
Until recently, Lindsay worked with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LiCC) to help local Church leaders equip and release missional disciples for the whole of life. She continues to serve as an Associate.
Prior to Baptist Ministry, Lindsay was involved in pioneering not-for-profit projects amongst some of the most marginalised communities in the UK. This included both setting up and supporting secular and church led projects relating to homelessness, street sex work, trafficking, substance misuse, racial incidents and young people at risk of offending. She has been a board member of a number of Urban Regeneration Programmes and served the Home Office and the Office of Deputy Prime Minister as a consultant. She has also been a Housing Officer, Housing Manager, trustee of a housing association working with disabled people and trustee with BMS World Mission.
Lindsay also has a passion for the outdoors, the environment and climate. She studied for a BSc in Geoscience (Exeter).
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Ministries Committee Co - Opted
After leaving school Sam trained in London as a Registered Nurse. After 3 years as a Ward Manger in Care of the Elderly he worked in NHS Staff Development as a Management and Leadership Trainer. He then trained at Bristol Baptist College before becoming the minister of Calne Baptist Church in Wiltshire, where was for 12 years. Sam became minister of Tyndale Baptist Church in August of 2022. He is seconded one day a week to take up the role of Chaplain and Tutor at Bristol Baptist College. Sam has represented Baptists Together on the Joint Liturgical Group, which aims to serve the churches of Britain in the renewal of their worship and the development of common liturgical thinking and texts in the worldwide Church. He takes a keen interest in aspects Spirituality and Worship where he enjoys using his creative skills. In his leisure time he loves long country walks, photography and painting.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal Emeritus
Stephen Finamore was Principal of Bristol Baptist College for 17 years and is now Principal Emeritus. Steve has been a lawyer, led a community development project in inner London and worked for a rural development project in the Andes of northern Peru. He trained for Ministry and read theology in Oxford, and was pastor of Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church. He has been elected to serve as President of Baptists Together for 2024-25. Stephen has written a number of books, and his short commentary on Romans is available free from the Bible Reading Fellowship.