Details of the church’s leadership team, and staff, are included here.

 

Paul Merton - Pastor

Paul is the Pastor of the church - a role which includes teaching, leadership, and pastoral care. Paul is married to Alison. His great loves are their 4 children, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren; watching his sons play rugby for school, club, and county; supporting Newcastle United; and music and films of all kinds.

Shelagh Garry - Assistant Pastor

Shelagh is our Assistant Pastor and is also one of our worship leaders and has joint responsibility for worship within the church. As well as her leadership responsibilities, Shelagh helps to run our Parent and Toddler group and our Kidz Klub. Shelagh is married to Jim and they have three boys all of whom are actively involved in different ways at church.

 

Leadership Team

Hazlene Bess

Hazlene joined the leadership team in 2006, and has a passion for telling others about Christ. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Hazlene is a part of the stewarding team, and is often one of the friendly faces at the door on a Sunday morning. A qualified nurse, Hazlene has a full-time job looking after the elderly. She is also mum to 2 children in their early twenties, and lives in Fenham.

Angela Wilson

As well as being a member of the leadership team, Angela is the Church Administrator trying to keep things ticking along as smoothly as she can as far as administrative matters and the day to day use of the building are concerned. She was born in Newcastle and has attended WBC all of her life (apart from a 3 year stint away at teacher training college in the 1960s!). She is married to Ron, and they have 2 sons and 3 gorgeous grandchildren (who live in the USA).

Jim Garry

An engineer by profession, Jim spends much of his week running his business and investigating accidents. Jim is a key member of our Kidz Klub team where you will find him most Friday evenings generally covered in some kind of gunge! He lives locally to the church with his wife Shelagh and their three boys.

Gill Rees 

Gill has served on the leadership team since October 2008 and shares responsibility for overseeing the ministry life of the church. She has attended Westgate most of her life and in the past has been involved in youth work and worship and currently leads the Whickham Home Group. Gill works in the west of the city as a Community Matron looking after people with long term chronic illnesses.  When time allows she enjoys being with family (especially nephews aged 9 & 5) and friends and tries to keep healthy with swimming and hill walking.   

Christian Lombe

Christian joined the leadership team in 2006, and leads the French/English group. Originally from Congo, he spends much of his time visiting, encouraging and pastoring the many French-speaking Africans who are part of our church family, as well as preaching and leading worship occasionally on a Sunday. Christian is also a qualified painter / decorator.

Lynne Ranson

Lynne joined the leadership team in 2010. Lynne plays her guitar in the worship team and helps out at young church. She also heads up the students and young adults group. When she's not teaching children foreign languages, she enjoys eating potatoes, anything stripey, and visiting far-flung corners of the world.

Natalie Harris

Natalie is a younger team member and joined in 2010.  She also serves on the multimedia team and is responsible for CRB checks within the church. Natalie lives in a small village to the west of the city, where she enjoys being able to enjoy the great outdoors.  She has been known to compete in running and triathlon events, but hesitates to use the word race!  In her spare time she works as a psychiatrist.

 

 

Staff Team

The staff team consist of the pastors and five part-time staff:

Angela Wilson, Church Administrator
Janet Wilkinson, Receptionist
Carol Taylor, PA to Paul Merton
Danielle Moore,  Fundraiser
Teresa Giffard, Cleaner