Our Pastor

Nick Gray

I was brought up in a Christian home where I understood “being a Christian” meant “being a very good boy” – perfect if possible. After years of trying hard I gave it up – and church along with it. I was good (as I saw it) but never perfect.

Thankfully I met a bunch of Christians at university who explained to me the real gospel of grace: that I could be right with God on the basis of Jesus’ good behaviour, not mine. And all my falling short was paid for by his death. I took hold of it as the good news it is – and was thrown into leading worship and small groups right from the start. Since that time my Christian life has been about two things: growing in service to the Lord as I grow out of the fear that was embedded in childhood into the confidence that God loves me and can use me.

In 1994 I married Lesley – the second most transformative relationship of my life! In 1996 I gave up work in IT Support to train full-time for the ministry. Lesley and I then moved to the Cotswolds in 2000 to pastor a small, rural, independent Baptist church. At the time we had one baby son not quite a year old. I learned pastoral ministry from making plenty of mistakes. (And we had three more children along the way).
In 2010 we moved to Staines. We found that Staines Cong is an amazing bunch of faithful people who love the Lord, want others to know him and want to do what he says.

We are now facing the possibility that we might be empty-nesters before long. But, having sought the Lord and the opinion of the eldership team, we are planning to stay at Staines Cong as long as the Lord allows. There are plenty of exciting things going on and coming in the future. We have people training for ministry. We have to make serious decisions about updating our buildings. We have young people going on into Christian work. We have people coming to know Jesus for the first time. And there are people growing in love for Jesus and for others. What more could you ask?

 

Our Elders

Staines Congregational Church is led by 3 Elders under the guidance of our pastor. Together they look after the spiritual well-being all the people attending our church.

Bill Dodsworth

I grew up in a Christian home, my grandad was a minister and as a child I always thought of myself as a Christian; if I had to put a date on when this became truly real to me it would be at a Billy Graham Crusade in 1985; from there I spent 4 years in Loughborough, where I was at University studying Engineering and it was there that God truly blessed me with some great Christian friends and my faith grew exponentially.

Straight from University I was lucky enough to get a sponsorship with British Airways who taught me to fly and that is what, some 30 years ago, got me to move from my roots in the beautiful county of Yorkshire down to Staines and start my new life as a pilot, flying Boeing 737s for British Airways.

I have been at Staines Cong since the beginning of 1991 and during that time I have run the tape ministry, worked as treasurer of the Missionary committee, served as a Deacon, helped on the interregnum committee and acted as Church secretary for 7 years. For the last couple of years I am honoured to have been serving as an Elder at the Church.

At home, I have my wife Katie, who I met at meeting at a local Christian event; we married in 1996 and have two grown up girls. At work, I got a command on Boeing 757 and 767s in 2005 and I am currently very lucky to be flying Boeing 787 (Dreamliners) to destinations all over the world.

John Hawthorn

I was brought up in an Anglican church where I served as a choirboy from the age of eight. On moving to Senior School I was invited to join a Covenanter Bible Class held at Ashford Congregational Church. The following year I was converted while at a Covenanter holiday camp on North Wales. I became more involved in the church activities and it was at the church that in 1961 I met Esme when she returned from Teacher Training College. We were married in 1966 and served as bible class leaders, members of the choir and for a number of years as the church’s prayer group leaders for FEBA radio.

In 1985 Esme and I and our family moved to Staines Congregational Church. We both became involved in Sunday School teaching, as members of the Missionary Committee and members of the choir. Later on we led a Home Group. I have served as Missionary Committee Chairman, one of the Holding Trustees and Chair of the Holding Trustees and three periods as a Deacon. In 2007 I became the Church Secretary, a post I held through the eighteen month Interregnum period between Rev Stan Short and Rev Nick Gray. In 2011 I was elected an Elder and stood down as Church secretary at the 2012 AGM.

Before retiring I worked for over forty years in NHS Pathology Departments in various West London Hospitals. My initial training and qualifications were in Biochemistry, but in later years I became involved in Pathology management and for the last five years was employed as Pathology Manager for the South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust.

Since Esma passed away, I am a widower with two children, Jeremy and Rebekah and four grand children.

 

Kevin Moore

I was brought up in a non-Christian home environment and church was not part of our lives except for the usual events as weddings, Christmas etc. However, even as a child, I did have respect for anything to do with religion, whilst perhaps not understanding the meaning behind it. This it seems, would come later.

After leaving school and with no further education, I started working for a Freight Forwarder in 1977 and was taught Import Customs Clearance procedures for commercial goods. This became my whole working life and after 43 years I took an early retirement in December 2020.

It was my now wife Louise who introduced me to church initially as she then attended a Young Peoples Fellowship group at Ashford Congregational Church. We married at Staines Cong in 1988 and have worshipped there ever since. We have two children – Sally and Daniel – now grown up.

I committed to the Lord at Staines in 1990 and was baptised in 1996.

I have served in various positions whilst being at Staines Cong namely two six-year stints on the Diaconate – with a year out in between – and leading a Home Study Group which Louise and I now head up together. In 2014 I was encouraged to participate in leading the Sunday services and I still do. In 2017 I was asked on to the Eldership and have just started my second 5-year tenure. This was and still is, incredibly humbling for me. 

Our Deacons

Our Deacons (Lee Wilson, Cat Elliott, Della Heard, Shazia David and Tim Kerslake) help with the general running of the church including communications, worship, Health & Safety, events and care of God’s house.

The Deacons help to serve people, support the ministry, and help the church function smoothly.

Our Church Secretary

Laura Stevens

I first started coming to Staines Cong in 2011 with my husband, who has been coming to this church since he was a child.  I spent a long time just coming along on Sundays and learning more about Jesus. 

I became a Christian in 2018 and was Baptised in 2023.

We have two children that love all the youth activities and events here.

I love being part of this welcoming and supportive church family.

 

Our Assistant Church Secretary

Ian Santry

I’ve attended Staines Congregational Church since the age of 5 and came to Faith at a Boys’ Brigade Camp in Devon. Life since then has been a rollercoaster (I’m sure we could all say the same!) but I have known God’s presence in every situation.

Over time I have undertaken several roles in support of our Fellowship, ranging from printing to leading a Young People’s Bible class, but now in retirement I’m sup[porting Laura, as Assistant Church Secretary. 

Outside Church, I’m happily married to Alison and we have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren. I enjoy spending time with family, meeting friends, playing board games, running sound for a local dramam group, reading and TV.

Our Youth Work Co-Ordinator

Sarah McAndrew

I was brought up in an amazingly faithful Christian family in Hertfordshire and had a faith since a young age. Teenage years and early adulthood led me to question my beliefs, but the Lord stayed faithful to me, proving that it is always He who is holding us.

I married Kenny in 1994 and we came to Staines Cong in 2000 and we now have two teenage boys.
In 2013, through some ‘bumpy’ times in our family, God reminded me that it is He alone who we must rely on and He who gives us hope and joy no matter what life throws at us.

I was appointed the Youth Work Coordinator in September 2015 and these years have honestly been the best years of my working life! The Lord called me into the role unexpectedly from secular work and I think I have grown in faith and maturity as much as any of the children and young people. There are highs and lows of course but God’s blessing is always evident

Our Ministry Intern

Harvey McAndrew

I have been going to Staines Congregational Church as long as I can remember, but I didn’t understand the good news of Jesus until the church starting running football camps with Sports Reach. Growing up I was football mad (still am slightly 😆) and so to hear the gospel from football coaches really made me sit up and listen. For the first time I realised that I was a sinner and needed the forgiveness Jesus offered when he died on the cross in our place. From then on I’ve put my faith in Jesus through ups and downs where I have experienced the difficulties but ultimately the joy and peace of following Jesus. I have had a growing love for sharing the good news of Jesus that I have experienced for myself and have been blessed to share Jesus with people through my love for sport and whilst at university. I recently graduated university and am blessed to be back in Staines and sharing the message of Jesus with those here!

Our Church Administrator

Yasmin Pocock

I have been a Staines local for over 20 years and landed on Staines Cong as soon as I arrived here.

I come from a non-Christian background but after visiting a Home Group in Amsterdam, when I returned home to Indonesia I found a church in Jakarta. I became a Christian and was Baptised in 1999.

I have been working at Staines Cong as Administrator since 2018.