Leadership: Elders and staff
Our Elders
Day-to-day leadership of Immanuel is exercised by the church’s Elders. Our current team consists of Andrew Grey and Gavin Wright (our teaching elders or ministers), plus Mark Smithers and Will Trump (elected by church members to serve as governing elders). Here's some more information...
Revd Andrew Grey is our minister. Previously he worked on the staff teams of St Peter's Church in Harold Wood and St Helen's Bishopsgate in the City of London. He holds post-graduate degrees from Durham University and Oak Hill Theological College. Andrew is married to Elizabeth. They have three children.
Gavin Wright is our Associate Minister. He is a school-teacher by background. Previously he worked for schools in Romford, Hornchurch and Lebanon. Gavin trained as a preacher at the Proclamation Trust's Cornhill Training Course and has studied at Oak Hill Theological College. He is married to Jessica. They have three young children.
Mark Smithers is married to Charlotte, and father to their two daughters. Having trained as a chef, he now works locally in education.
Will Trump is married to Natalie. They have two young children. He grew up in Belgium in a missionary family. He works in the insurance industry.
Steve is married to Charlotte and they have been at Immanuel with their children since 2018. They love being part of the church family in Brentwood.
Women's Worker
Charlotte Smithers is our part-time Women’s Worker, helping to disciple the women in our church. Charlotte is married to Mark, with two children; by background she is an occupational therapist.
Administrator and Safeguarding Officer
Caroline Evans works part-time as our church manager. She is also our Safeguarding Officer. Caroline is married to Matt and they have two young children.
Trustees and Constitution
Immanuel is a registered charity. We encourage church members to be familiar with our Memorandum and Articles of Association. This document is our church constitution, setting out both the church's theological foundation and structure of government.
Legal and financial oversight of Immanuel rests with the trustees of the church. This group consists of our elders (see above), plus several others elected from among the members of the church (currently Alison Drummond, Laura Seamer, Kirsten Witchalls and Denis Parsons, who is also our church treasurer).
Council of Reference
The Elders and congregation are additionally served by a Council of Reference. This consists of several senior ministers from other local churches.
They are legally authorised to assist in the government of the church, as well as being available for informal counsel. Importantly, the Council of Reference helps ensure that Immanuel - whilst not being part of a formal denomination - is not a wholly independent church.
The Council is chaired by Revd Rob Hudson, who is the vicar of St Peter's Church, Harold Wood. Other members are: Revd David Banting, formerly vicar of St Peter's Harold Wood; Revd David Thomas, who is the minister of Christ Church Romford, a congregation of the International Presbyterian Church; and Revd Mike Walton, who is the minister of Cornerstone Church Grays, a congregation of the Anglican Mission in England.
Their contact details are:
Rob Hudson: rob.hudson@stpetersharoldwood.org / 01708 342080
David Banting: davidbanting@outlook.com / 0114 239 5131
David Thomas: d.wyn.thomas@gmail.com / 07702 115792
Mike Walton: mikewalton.online@gmail.com / 07949637377
In addition, Deborah Kelly, women's worker from Grace Church Wanstead, is available to female church members at Immanuel if they would like her help in relaying questions or concerns to the Council of Reference. She can be reached on djkelly101@gmail.com