Paul Merton

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 and 1 son-in-law; watching his sons play rugby for school, club, and county; supporting Newcastle United; and music and films of all kinds.

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.

Ken Brown

Ken shares the responsibility of the ministry team, and although not wishing to admit it, is considered a little older and wiser (sometimes!). Ken is kept busy during the week in the construction industry, and when time allows, enjoys socialising, fell walking, skiing and golf. Ken has a passion for people and for God. He has been married to Dorothy for 37 years and lives in the Northumberland countryside.

Keith Morley

Keith is one of the newest members of the team. As well as his leadership responsibilities, Keith regularly leads worship on a Sunday, together with his wife, Max. They live with their family in the west end of Newcastle.

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).

Shelagh Garry

Shelagh is 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.

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, and is studying for his First Certificate in English.

Ross Smith

Ross joined the leadership team at the beginning of 2006, and has responsibility for discipleship work within the church. He is also an occasional preacher, and plays in one of our music teams. A former Newcastle University student, he returned to the city in 2004 to work in the regional media. Ross lives with his wife Anneli in the Grainger Park estate, close to the church.

Richard Taylor

Richard has joint responsibility for the Mission Team, is part of the Hub Strategy Group and helps to oversee the Scout Group. Richard is a structural engineer and lives in Newcastle with Diane, his wife. He serves with her as a worship leader and in the international ministry.

Ron Wilson

Ron is about as 'local' as you can get, having always lived within 2 miles of the church, with his first 30 years in Northcote Street. A retired civil servant, Ron is married to Angela with 2 grown-up sons and 3 (American) grand-children. Ron has attended the church for 60 years, and has held a variety of roles including deacon, treasurer, and scout leader, as well as helping to develop The Hub and redevelop our building. Ron is also involved in a number of local initiatives including the Chat Shop and West End Refugee Service. Outside church, Ron takes an interest in Celtic spirituality, football, cricket and second-hand bookshops.

Angela Wilson

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).

Hub Staff

Shelagh Garry - Outreach Worker

As well as her church leadership responsibilities, Shelagh heads up our outreach work in the community through The Hub. You can find her round and about the church most days, and is particularly involved with our Parent and Toddler group and Kidz Klub. Shelagh is married to Jim and they have three boys all of whom are actively involved in different ways at church.

Heather Morton - Outreach Support

Heather works as the fundraiser and administrator for our outreach activities, and has longer hair than anyone else on the staff team. She has a passion for the Bible and for seeing “outsiders” welcomed into the church. Heather is engaged to Joel, and has lived locally for much of the last ten years. She is interested in communities and good coffee, and loves travelling and writing, Scrabble and her cat.