Andy is the Associate Minister at BGBC. He was born in Fleet, Hampshire, but has spent his adult life moving back and forwards between London and Kent. He is married to Sarah and they have four children, three of whom are now adults.
He came to faith at Brunel University where he studied Mathematics. On leaving university he initially worked as a statistician in the NHS before taking up a similar role within the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Whilst at the CAA, Andy completed a M.Sc. in Operational Research. During that time, he and Sarah lived in North London and were members of the Wood Green Mennonite Church.
Andy left the CAA in 1995 to commence training as a Baptist Minister at Spurgeon’s College, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Theology. Andy subsequently spent seven years as minister of Margate Baptist Church and eleven years as minister of Winchmore Hill Baptist Church in North London. In 2017, after eleven happy years in Winchmore Hill, Andy joined us here at Bessels Green.
Theologically Andy has been most shaped by Anabaptist ideas, especially the emphasis on discipleship being expressed in terms of living a Jesus-shaped life. Closer to home, the Bessels Green values capture his dream for a Christian community whose members “love generously, act justly, forgive swiftly, include selflessly and practice humility.”
Andy is a member of the core group of the Order for Baptist Ministry (OBM) and shares their conviction of Baptist ministry “as a way of being that mediates the presence of Christ, particularly expressed in word, sacrament, pastoral care and mission.”
In his spare time, Andy enjoys walking and taking photographs in the local countryside, watching live sport and attending concerts. He has supported Aldershot Town Football Club for over fifty years. This has bought some joy and much pain into his life! He spends far too much time ‘managing’ his fantasy football team (with mixed success).
Andy blogs (occasionally) at https://theemptybenchblog.wordpress.com/.