PARR STREET CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Elder
- Member of the Elders & Staff
Brian was born and grew up in a Christian family in Carlisle. After studying theology in London he worked for a while with students with UCCF and then pastored a church in Stockport for 18 years. He came to Kendal in 1997 and was pastor at Parr Street Church until his retirement in 2012.
He is married to June and they enjoy spending time with their family (a son, a daughter and three granddaughters). Since retirement, Brian has discovered the kitchen and enjoys trying to cook, with varying degrees of success!
Job Titles:
- Elder
- Member of the Elders & Staff
Edwin is married to Elaine, has three grown-up children and 11 grandchildren.
He grew up on a farm nine miles north of Kendal and became a Christian as a boy through the witness of godly parents. After a year in Africa he worked for many years with adults with learning difficulties but is now a self-employed handyman - soon to be retired!
In his spare time he enjoys his allotment, baking bread, supporting Colin and Emu music, and crazy family time in Lancaster, Carlisle and Oswestry!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elders & Staff
- Youth Worker
Hannah is married to Jonathan. They have two children, Noah and Daisy, as well as a Labradoodle called Ted.
Hannah is thankful for her upbringing in a Christian home and decided to follow Jesus at a young age. She studied Youth Work at both Nottingham Trent University and The University of Cumbria. After studying, she worked for NISCU as a schools worker for five years before taking up her role at Parr Street Church and has really enjoyed two years on the North West Partnership Ministry Trainee course.
Hannah loves to spend most of her time with family, but she also enjoys a walk with the dog, listening to music and trying to squeeze swimming into her spare time!
Job Titles:
- Associate Pastor
- Member of the Elders & Staff
Joel was privileged to grow up in a loving Christian home. However, it was during his time at Moorlands Church in Lancaster that many of the implications of the gospel clicked into place. From there he moved to Carlisle Baptist Church to be a Ministry Trainee then Youth, Children's and Families Worker. He then went for further training at Oak Hill College in London, where he also met and married Lucy. Returning to the North West in 2018, he now serves as the Associate Pastor at Parr Street.
To rest Joel enjoys woodwork, growing peas, running, reading and drinking tea (milk, no sugar).
Job Titles:
- Elder
- Member of the Elders & Staff
John was born and brought up in Yorkshire but has lived in Kendal for the past 30 years. He became a Christian in his 20s and works as a lawyer.
He is married, has four children, and in his spare time John plays the trombone badly with a local brass band.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elders & Staff
- Pastor
Paul is the Full-time Teaching Elder and devotes most of his time to teaching the Bible to the church family at Parr Street.
He is married to Jane and they have two adult sons, Peter and Stephen. Paul trained for the ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. After serving as an Assistant Minister in Kendal he looked after two south Cumbrian Anglican churches for 11 years before returning to Kendal to take up his role at Parr Street in 2012. He grew up in the South Lakeland Town of Ulverston and started to follow Jesus as a teenager.
To relax, he loves watching (and occasionally playing!) football and eating hot curries.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Member of the Elders & Staff
- Minister
Simon is married to Jenny, and together they have two children: Josiah and Hannah.
He grew up locally in Burton in Kendal and became a Christian as a teenager. After going to University in Newcastle, where he met and married Jenny, they both returned to Kendal and have loved becoming part of Parr Street Church.
Simon loves wrestling with God's word, and bringing others to it to see our great God! In his spare time, Simon loves making good coffee, playing table tennis and football, and spending time with Jenny, Josiah and Hannah.