Duncan Hill Brown (Vicar)
Duncan, a 40-something, has a crazy passion
for surfing in the winter - especially holidays in Croyde, North Devon, from February
to October. He loves food, both cooking it and eating it, as well as being partial
to the occasional bottle of wine.
With Rachel, his wife, he loves
spending time with friends they have accumulated over 17 years of living in and
around Birmingham. They have lived and worked in Parishes in Sparkhill, Sutton
Coldfield, and Erdington before escaping the Motorway Ring to make Dorridge and
Bentley Heath their home in 2006.
Duncan is currently suffering
from the lack of a dog and no daily walking routine, but his small children are
making up for this in terms of exercise.
Duncan came to personal
faith in Jesus as a child through the ministry and witness of someone who came from
Solihull to Swanage in Dorset, and was part of a team of people sharing their faith
with kids and young people.
Here he is, 30 years later, seeking
to share the same good news which has radically transformed his life, with people
of all ages in Solihull.
Duncan says he counts it a privilege
to be part of a diverse and loving Christian family, and he is encouraged for the
future by being part of a church where we have many teenagers and young adults who
are so alive in their Christian faith, service and commitment.
Hennie Johnston (Associate Vicar)
Hennie loves people and friends are her life-line, as are her shoes – she thinks you can never have too many of
either. She also loves her wonderful dog!
Her passions are walking, especially
in Scotland, and travel, especially in Kenya. She likes to get the balance of weather
right between snow and sun. Oh and, in case you were wondering, she does love the
job God has called her to as well!
Hennie got ordained in the later years
of her life, having spent 24 years working in London at the Palace of Westminster,
and later in a large London church.
She says many people have had a huge
input into her Christian journey, one being a young man who also worked at Westminster,
and whose father was then Archdeacon of Coventry.
Perhaps it was not surprising,
then, that she found herself, 13 years later, being offered a curacy in Coventry
in the City Centre Church beside the Cathedral.
We are so pleased she was
then called to work with us!
Hennie says she is amazed and blessed by the
commitment and dedication of so many church members at St Philip’s and St James’
who give a huge amount of their time, talents and skills to serve God and our local
community in Dorridge and Bentley Heath in so many practical, prayerful and inspiring
ways.
Ben Cook (Youth Minister)
Ben is completely in love with music and
has a huge collection of albums. He loves the feel of buying an album, discovering
it and theologically reflecting in music.
He also has an unparalleled passion
for Apple products (please believe us), as well as leading worship, reading, playing
his guitar and watching films.
Ben grew up in Sutton Coldfield and, before
university, did a year out working for his local church as an Assistant Youth Leader.
Ben says God showed him that He had given him a gift and a passion for this
ministry so he then did a degree in Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology
through Oxford Brookes University.
As part of the course, Ben did a three
year placement as trainee youth worker for three churches in Wolverhampton. He
also worked in a local secondary school as a learning mentor.
He loves the
support, love and encouragement of our close knit community and he adds,
“I
love being part of a community of believers who are so friendly and I feel very
much at home here. I am also challenged by how passionate the young people of our
Parish are for making the good news about Jesus heard by their friends in the community.
They keep me very busy!”
Celia Gibb
(Parish Administrator
Ruth Bradshaw
(Parish Administrator)
Clare Bugg
(Communications Manager)