Area Mission Teams

Who we are

The Woolwich Area Mission Team (WAMT) is a multidisciplinary group of eight, headed by the Area Bishop of Woolwich, with the two Archdeacons, two Advisers, two PAs and one part-time Resources Co-ordinator.

We work closely together and meet regularly to spend time together as a team and discuss areas of mutual concern.

The Youth Adviser and Community Development Adviser are accountable jointly to the Woolwich Area Mission Team and to the Diocesan board of their field.

What we stand for

Members of the Area Mission Team, believing that all people are made in the image and likeness of God and equally loved by him, make a commitment to social and racial justice, caring, evangelism, participation, partnership and integration, in sharing the good news in our urban setting.

We commit ourselves to be an integrated and co-ordinated resource team, available to encourage and help in parochial ministry, through offering expertise, experience, training and resource materials and time. We commit ourselves to work collaboratively with other agencies and denominations, at all area levels from parish to borough and beyond.

Where to find us

We are based on the first floor of Trinity House. Alongside our office, the Stricklen Room (dedicated to a former member of our team who strongly influenced its development) is available for bookings for Area events and meetings, and houses the Woolwich Episcopal Area Resource Exchange.

Who's who on the Team?

Bishop Christopher

Christopher Chessun

Area Bishop of Woolwich

Tel: 020 7939 9400
Fax: 020 7939 9465

E-mail Bishop Christopher

Read full biography

Maggie Elkin

Maggie Elkin

PA to the Bishop of Woolwich

Tel: 020 7939 9400
Fax: 020 7939 9465

E-mail Maggie Elkin

Maggie enjoys the challenges of dealing with enquiries and helping out wherever she can, and sees them as a way of broadening her own experiences. Within her own parish, she tries to fight the corner of teenagers, aiming to keep in touch so they know they are always welcome.

Christine Hardman

Christine Hardman

Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich

Tel: 020 7939 9408 (office)
Fax: 020 7939 9465 (office)

E-mail Christine Hardman

Read full biography

Michael Ipgrave

Michael Ipgrave

Archdeacon of Southwark

Tel: 020 7939 9409 (office)
Fax: 020 7939 9465 (office)

E-mail Michael Ipgrave

Read full biography

Jenni Parton

Jenni Hewitt

PA to the Archdeacons

Tel: 020 7939 9413
Fax: 020 7939 9465

E-mail Jenni Hewitt

Jenni started working for the diocese in 2004 in the Kingston Episcopal Area Office as PA to the Archdeacons of Lambeth and Wandsworth and moved to Trinity House in 2006 to take on the Archdeacons of Lewisham & Greenwich and Southwark.

Sue Hutson

Sue Hutson

Diocesan Community Development Adviser

Tel: 020 7939 9417
Fax: 020 7939 9465

E-mail Sue Hutson

Sue joined the team at the end of 2004, from grass-roots experience, and is involved with parishes who wish to begin or develop their community work. This might be as a small group project or a big new site and partnership development. Her priority is to work with those parishes who serve and minister to areas of multiple deprivation. She is available to come and meet with PCC's and work groups to help you think through, develop and augment your vision. She works closely with Steph Blackwell who helps parishes, from identified areas, access funding to deliver sustainable parish programmes. Sue also runs the Diocesan Community Development workers group and the Parish Development Network. She is editor of the Community Works quarterly newsletter and also helps teach on some modules of the SPA and OLM training schemes.

Dean Pusey

Dean Pusey

Diocesan Youth Adviser

Tel: 020 7939 9416
Fax: 020 7939 9465

E-mail Dean Pusey

Dean works as Youth and Children's Officer for Woolwich and Youth Adviser for the Diocese as a whole.

He is working to develop relationships and strategies with young people and those who work with young people within churches, in order to engage its structures effectively.

Dean works in partnership with the Diocesan Children's Adviser, the Diocesan Children's and Youth Policy Group (CYPG), the Area Council, local parishes and other related agencies, to produce relevant guidelines for full participation and inclusion of children and young people in the Church's life and mission.

Children's and Youth Policy Advisory Group

Woolwich Area Representatives

Hugh Ridsdill-Smith - Greenwich YFC

Gail Exon - All Saints, Blackheath

Child Protection

Jill Sandham

Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Tel: 020 7939 9423
Mobile: 07982 279713

E-mail Jill Sandham

Parish Development Network

The Parish Development Network (PDN) was set up in 2003. Its team of advisers and specialists provides a service to parishes by offering training and workshops in such areas as:

• Church growth
• Management of change
• Conflict resolution
• Vision and strategy
• Education and training in welcoming, belonging, intercessions & running meetings
• Training for PCCs and Churchwardens

Beside a series of workshops available for anyone interested to attend, the PDN will also offer tailor-made sessions by request, to meet the specific needs of individual parishes.

PDN Team members include:

• Ann Atkins
• Rev Hugh Dawes
• Sue Hutson
• Rev Pat Soer
• Rev Alyson Peberdy
• Rev Malcolm Torry
• Rev Naomi Whittle

For more information contact Sue Hutson

Borough Deans

Southwark

The Venerable Michael Ipgrave
Tel: 020 7939 9409

Lewisham

The Venerable Christine Hardman
Tel: 020 7939 9408

Greenwich

Rev Dr Malcolm Torry
Tel: 020 8858 3006

E-mail: malcolm@mtorry.freeserve.co.uk

Woolwich Episcopal Area Resource Exchange

The Resource Exchange is available to resource your church in several different ways:

• Printed and multi-media materials available for reference or on loan
• A database of information on other sources both local and national
• A central point for exchanging information between parishes - advice, materials, people resources, recommendations etc

Categories include: group study materials, pastoral issues, children's activities, youth work, worship materials, videos & DVDs, fundraising, teamwork, new models of being church, conflict resolution, training, community projects and many more...

Zimbabwe Link

The Woolwich Area is twinned with Manicaland, the eastern diocese in Zimbabwe.

The Bishop of Manicaland, Bishop Peter Hatendi, is currently trying to establish a Diocesan base in Mutare notwithstanding the continuing difficulties presented by his immediate predecessor who was deposed by the Church of the Province of central Africa. Bishop Peter’s appointment is temporary and there will be a process to decide on a permanent bishop for the diocese sometime in 2009.

Joanna Marunda, a member of Mothers Union living in London, has arranged for 2 containers of food and other essentials to reach people in Manicaland, especially young children. She is working with the blessing and support of Bishop Peter and the Woolwich Manicaland Link Group.

A large part of the diocese (which is nearly half the size of England) is rural and many of the clergy are serving several churches which are dispersed over wide areas under tremendous difficulties with the present challenging situation in Zimbabwe. We pray for better times, for an end to the cholera epidemic, for a fair distribution of food and clean water to all people, for the re-establishment of hospitals and schools.

Contact Person: Rev Naomi Whittle 020 8856 5858

Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (MEAC)

When the Diocesan Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns Committee was established it was determined that issues affecting race relations at Episcopal Area level were vitally important and that a local presence should be maintained. The Woolwich Area responded to this challenge by launching a small group to monitor such issues within the area. The Woolwich Area group has the following aims and objectives:

• To assist with and oversee the implementation of the 'Institutional Racism Report' in the area - the report expects each and every department and institution in parishes and deaneries to take initiative in implementing those parts of the report that concern them.
• To identify local issues that need to be addressed and initiate action with assistance from the Diocesan MEAC.
• To help publicise the Diocesan wide empowerment programmes and increase participation of minority ethnic Anglicans within these programmes. These include Racial Justice Sunday, Black and Minority Ethnic Forum's annual conference, Summer Youth Conference, Vocations Road Shows and work with young people.
• To identify areas of limited participation of minority ethnic Anglicans in the life of the Church.

For further information, contact:
Susan Findlater-Dainton
Tel: 07765 027600

E-mail: susan.f-dainton@lineone.net

Ecumenical Advisers

Southwark

Vacant

Lewisham & Greenwich

Vacant