Our Ministry Team

A hello from Janet Aspey

In September 2016 I moved to Altrincham to be the Superintendent minister of the Altrincham Circuit, and, although I was involved with all 4 churches in the circuit, my role at Timperley wasn’t one of direct involvement in the day-to-day aspects of the Church's life.  Knowing that Ros Watson would be moving on in March 2019, I took over as the minister of The Vine. This is just a small amount of information about myself and my family, by way of an introduction.

I have a husband, Malc (who you will be getting to know more of), 3 married children and 3 grandchildren.  As a child, I lived in Pickering, North Yorkshire and have also lived in Luton, Mobberley (Cheshire), Preston, Wigan, North Manchester, Radcliffe and Ipstones (not far from Alton Towers), the latter three as a Methodist Minister.  I have always been a part of the Methodist Church and made a commitment to follow Jesus when I was 15, and it was only 2 years later when I felt that God was calling me to be a preacher.  I have had various jobs – starting out as a bank clerk, running my own secretarial business, teaching IT in Further Education, child-minding and school administrator (dealing particularly with finance).  I became a Methodist Minister in 2001 and, for the 5 years before coming here, was Superintendent of a circuit with 23 churches in it, most of which were rural – rather a contrast to being here. I enjoy most forms of music, and play the piano, sing and occasionally play the guitar.  I recently bought a clarinet, an instrument I used to play as a teenager, but I’m very rusty – it may be sometime before I allow anyone to hear!!  I also enjoy photography, mainly landscape, though don’t get as much time to take photographs as I would like. I love worship and also love helping other people to discover their gifts and how they might best use them.  I’m also passionate about helping people to understand just how much God loves them and that following Jesus, whilst sometimes challenging, is also a huge amount of fun. I’m looking forward to getting to know people in Hale and at The Vine better, so please say hello and tell me your name if you bump into me.

Sue Jackson - Lay Pastor for The Vine and Bowdon Vale

 

Jackie Davies - Circuit Children's and Family Worker

Jackie Davies is our Children's and Family Worker and she is very busy working in four Methodist churches Altrincham, Hale, Timperley and Bowdon Vale as well as local school and with parents. Jackie has been in her ministry role for over five years.

She is responsible and helps teams deliver the very successful Messy Church at The Vine, regular weekday Tiny Praise, Summer Holiday Clubs. Jackie also supports Sunday Club, and leads school assemblies.

 

Rachel Foster - Circuit Youth Worker in Altrincham, Bowdon Vale, The Vine and Timperley

Rachel comes to us to continue a Youth Ministry which she has been pursuing successfully in Sheffield these last three years. She comes along with Danny her husband and Maisie, their small and charming 16month old daughter. They are a warm, gentle and cheerful trio who lift your heart as they say hello.
Rachel comes originally from Longbridge in South Birmingham. There are few traces of a West Midlands’ accent – though she went from Longbridge to nearby Redditch, famed for its round‐abouts.

Her commitment to a Christian Ministry with young people is well established: a real feeling of being a Christian came to her when she was 15 and by the age of 17 she knew that Youth Work was her calling. At Birmingham University she graduated in Theology, returning later to training to teach RE.
Another influential thread in her development has been involvement with the Girls’ Brigade. It was through attendance at national rallies that she and Danny met. Danny is originally from Hull, a long‐time member of the Boys Brigade with skills and talents in the world of arts.

A gap year in Essex took Rachel on to train in Youth Work with the Baptist Church in Billericay. This was energising and inspiring but did not lead to immediate openings in the field; hence her return to studies in Birmingham.

A three year appointment in Youth Ministry with an Anglican‐
Methodist Church in Gloucester gave her a first real opportunity to
practice in the work she knows is her metier. Then she became Development Director for Girls’ Brigade England and Wales before a three years project in Sheffield. The move to Sheffield felt to be ‘God Guid‐ed’: a skate board in the garden, other applicants fading from the scene –Doors opened on a fabulous challenge from a family base in an enormous former manse and they have seen mighty progress.

 

At Sheffield Rachel has had a responsibility for ten churches so that her role has become essentially advisory/supervisory. The ten church Circuit is about to become assimilated into a 60 church Circuit with changes of organisation and revenue.

Rachel and Danny are looking forward to being part of our smaller Circuit which will allow Rachel more scope for hands‐on involvement. As with the Sheffield appointment, there have been happenings which feel more than coincidences that made them aware of the Altrincham opening and then told them more. Rachel is part‐way through a Masters course at Cliff College in which her dissertation considers the role and potential of Brigades in modern Youth Ministry in the UK.

This is a seriously well‐equipped young woman who will welcome and be welcomed by young people and older people who can catch her vision and help to take it further.