The Church Team
A headline in a Church Times article on 20th July 2018 ran:
“Clergy should refuse to be indispensable”
Building Teams to carry out Ministry is better for the health of the incumbent and the parish….
Four months ago All Saints had already taken the first steps in establishing Teams to cover different areas of church life. Each Team is made up of members of the congregation and of the wider community and is co-chaired by a female and male lead. The Teams in brief are:
Ministry – the Lead Team (with representation from each of the other Teams) responsible
for the services of worship and for strengthening our links within the parish as a whole
Children, youth and music – responsible for the monthly Family Service, for Sunday School
and for the range of music and activities available to young people.
Choir – responsible for the development of our robed choir which sings at all the main
annual festivals in the Christian calendar.
Church, Hall and Audit – responsible for the maintenance and hire of the Church and Hall and for the finances
Gardens – responsible for the maintenance of the Memorial Garden and for the
development of three other gardens near the Church and Hall with community involvement
Communications, Events and Fundraising – responsible for events such as the Family Fun
Day and Michaelmas Fair and for raising funds to enable us to deliver what we offer
The overall aim of our Teams is simply to transform All Saints New Eltham “from a
community gathered around a Minister to a ministering community.” *
*(Acknowledgement: Church Times article 20/7/18 written by Rev’d Andy Griffiths, author of “Refusing to be Indispensable”)
Introducing the team
Vicar: Rev’d Annette Rose
I have been Vicar of All Saints New Eltham since 2009 where I live with my husband, David and our two boys, Richard and Matthew. It is a community which I am proud to be a part of, sharing God’s love with those around us and serving his church in this place.
My father was a Vicar serving Parishes in Caterham, Abbey Wood and Sydenham. From the age of eight I have sung in a church choir and love all kinds of church music from Gregorian chant to more modern Christian groups such as Delirious and Casting Crowns. I began my working life in WH Smiths where I worked for seven years in many branches across London. I subsequently moved to Canterbury to work for SPCK, an Anglican Mission Society, to run their Canterbury bookshop and then coordinate their work across the south east.
I was ordained as Curate of Barham, Bishopsbourne, Kingston and Womenswold in 2004 and then, in 2007, I became Priest in Charge of Wingham, Preston, Elmstone & Stourmouth, before I was appointed to All Saints New Eltham.
Reader: Rita Mather
While I was at St. Luke’s, Charlton the Vicar there suggested that I became a Reader. He said that he thought I had good communication skills, good listening skills, an outgoing personality and with my background as an Religious Education teacher he felt I would be ideal. After a chat with one of the Readers there I made my application to the Bishop. After a selection process I was accepted on the three year course. The course consisted of lectures with monthly tutorials and weekends away. I was licensed in Southwark Cathedral in October 1999.
As a Reader at All Saints I assist the vicar at the Sunday Eucharist. I preach about once a month and administer the chalice at Holy Communion. I visit the sick and housebound and take them Holy Communion if required. I have taken non-Eucharistic services as well as family services. I also take funerals, as I have a licence. In general, I support Annette and the activities of the church in any way I can, which has included sponsored Old Testament and New Testament reads in which many members of the Parish participated and helped to raise vital funds for the church.
Churchwarden: Neil Davis
My Name is Neil Davis, I am a husband, father and grandfather. I have worked in the NHS for nearly 30 years in the fields of mental health, learning disabilities and community health. I have been a Christian since 1992 and served as a deacon in a previous church for 5 years. I joined All Saints Church New Eltham towards the end of 2023 and immediately felt at home.
Churchwarden: Bob Avery
My first stint as Churchwarden was between 2002 and 2011 working with the previous incumbent Rev Jean Wadsworth and including the year (2008-2009) running the church without a Vicar until Rev Annette took up post. During which time I project managed several major repairs to the church including, after roof repair work, decoration of the Nave ceiling, replacement and upgrading of the Aisle ceilings, replacement of one of the Lady Chapel flat roofs and subsequently was part of the team that redecorated the Lady Chapel, mostly whilst working full time doing 12 hour night shifts.
At the end of this run as Churchwarden I filled the role of Treasurer from 2011 to 2020 and during this time project managed the upgrade of the Church Hall Toilets. I also produced the Church monthly magazine from 2014 to 2021 and in 2017-2018 it was necessary for me to step back in to being Churchwarden again as well.
Having retired from paid work in 2009, I am still an active member of my Trade Union’s retired members London Committee having recently been elected to serve a three year term as a member of their Standing Orders Committee and also still a Trustee/Director of my former employer’s Company Pension Scheme, so I am absolutely delighted to be Churchwarden yet again.
Treasurer: Paul Lawal
Church Council Vice Chairperson: Peter French
I’ve lived in New Eltham all my life. I joined the congregation of All Saints when I was baptised and I’ve been a member ever since.
I am married and have two “kids” aged 16 and 21. I work full time for a communications company as a product manager. I enjoy cycling and following the fortunes of West ham United (which has as many ups and downs as a hilly cycle ride).
I’ve done various roles at All Saints from being a member of the choir when I was a child to being a Church Warden and helping with the maintenance of the building. I’ve heard various descriptions of All Saints but the ‘Church Family’ seems to fit the bill.
We aim to be welcoming and friendly to all no matter where people are on their personal journey.
