the midland unitarian association executive committee

To view brief biographical details of a member, please move your mouse pointer over a picture.

the
president

Rev. Peter Hewis, BA, MA
Peter has served on the Executive Committee since 2002 since joining Harris Manchester College, Oxford as Chaplain, Ministerial Training Tutor, Bursar, and Fellow. He is now a retired Minister. His previous Ministries included Bethnal Green, Hinckley and two exchanges Ministries in Knoxville, Tennessee. Peter is a Past President of the General Assembly and serves on the General Assembly Ministry Commission. He was also Secretary of the Ministers’ Benevolent Society. He lives in Yarnton near Oxford. He became Vice-President in 2007.

Rev. Peter Hewis

the
vice president

Mrs. Bronwen Taylor
Bronwen is a fourth generation Unitarian with links to non-conformism dating back to 1733. Originally from Manchester, she is still a member of Cross Street Chapel and worshipped at John pounds Unitarian Chapel in Portsmouth during her student days. She has been a member of Shrewsbury Unitarian Church for the last 13 years and membership Secretary for the last 10 years. She retired from school teaching in 2008, after 41 years in the profession. After leading Services for the last 7 years, she now intends to complete the Worship Studies Foundation Course. She enjoys Hymn writing, having written 14 so far, 2 of which have been selected for the new GA Hymn book. Bronwen has lived in Bridgnorth for nearly 35 years.

Mrs. Bronwen Taylor

the immediate
past president

Mrs. Alison Thursfield, BSc, PG Cert Ed
Alison is a member of Bayshill Unitarian Church, Cheltenham which forms part of the Cotswold Group of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches. She has served on the Executive Committee since 2002 and became Vice President in 2005 and President in 2007. She lives near Cheltenham.

Mrs. Alison Thursfield

the secretary

Mrs. Sue Woolley, BA.,M.Phil
Sue is a fourth generation Unitarian. She is a member of the Northampton Unitarians and also edits their Newsletter and their website. She is married and lives near Northampton with her husband and two children. She is a G.A. Qualified Lay Preacher, and is a regular Preacher in Midland Unitarian Association Congregations. She became Secretary in 2007 and was appointed Midland Unitarian Association District Facilitator in 2008. She is also Secretary of the Unitarian Association for Lay Ministry and is currently training for Ministry at Harris Manchester College, Oxford.

Mrs. Sue Woolley

the treasurer

Mr. Sandy Ellis, TD, BA, FCMA
Sandy, a third generation Unitarian, is a member of Oat Street Chapel, Evesham. He has served on the Executive Committee and as Midland Unitarian Association Treasurer since 1983. He has been a Manager of the Ministers’ Stipend Augmentation Fund since 1986 and is a Director of the Ministers’ Benevolent Society. He served as Treasurer of the Sustentation Fund from 1994-2003 and was a Trustee of the Hibbert & Gregson Trusts from 1991-2003. A Chartered Management Accountant with 40 years experience, he is a G.A. Qualified Lay Preacher and is a regular Preacher in Midland Unitarian Association Congregations and lives near Worcester.

Mr. Sandy Ellis

elected members

Mrs. Jenny Buckland
Jenny has been a member, Treasurer & Acting Secretary of Bayshill Unitarian Church, Cheltenham since 1997, as well as a member of the Gloucester Fellowship, both of which form part of the Cotswold Group of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches. She organises Pulpit Supplies for both Congregations. She served on the Executive Committee from 2000-2002 and rejoined it in 2004. She lives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Mrs. Jenny Buckland

Mr. John Chandler
John lives in South Birmingham and has been a member of our Kingswood congregation for the last twelve years. He initially worked in the retail and insurance sectors before joining the Civil Service, where he served for twenty two years until his retirement in 1992.

Mr. John Chandler

Miss. Winnie Gordon
Winnie is a newcomer to Unitarianism, having joined Unitarian New Meeting, Birmingham in 2007, since when she has become very actively involved. Not only does she serve as Children's Worship Leader, she has also taken over as Lettings Steward. As a qualified Faith Tourist Guide, Winnie can be conducting tours of UNM and explaining its history to visitors. She has recently become Administrator for the national Joined Up Education Panel.

Miss. Winnie Gordon

Rev. Anthony Howe
Ant is Minister of the Kingswood and Warwick congregations. He holds a degree in theology and also has a post graduate diploma in contextual theology. He trained for Ministry at Unitarian College Manchester and led the congregations of Chorlton and Cheadle prior to his move to the Midlands. He is an accomplished musician. Ant lives in Hollywood, Worcs.

Rev. Anthony Howe

Mr. David Mearman
David has been a member of Stourbridge Presbyterian (Unitarian) Church since 1966. He succeeded his late father as Organist, continuing a fifty year family tradition, and is the Secretary, and a Trustee. He lives in Stourbridge, Worcestershire.

Mr. David Mearman

Jane Couper
Brought up as an Anglican in a family more interested in politics than religion Jane became a Unitarian as a teenager. In her professional life she taught Religious Studies at an academic independent school and from the late 1980s she was an active member of Hale Chapel becoming its Chairman, then President of the Manchester District Association. In 2003 she moved with her husband to Evesham and now attends Oat Street Chapel. Recently she has been involved with "future ministry" and the District Associations Project.

Jane Couper

Angela Maher
Angela found the Unitarians in 2007 and is a member of Unitarian New Meeting, Birmingham where she edits the church calendar and website. She is active in the Unitarian Communication Coordinators Network and BUYAN, the Unitarian young adults network. Angela works in web content development in the civil service and lives in Birmingham.

Angela Maher

Ash James
Ash is a recent Unitarian, having joined the Kidderminster New Meeting House, where he is Vice-President, in 2008. he does have a family connection however to Unitarianism, through his wife Elaine, a fourth generation Unitarian.
He was formerly a Deputy Headteacher at a large Dudley comprehensive school, but has over the last five years become increasingly involved within the voluntary sector. He works as a volunteer adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Stourbridge, is a governor at a local school and a member of the Dudley Education Appeals team. He is an events organiser and fund raiser for various charities, organising charity weekends and music promotion events. He lives in Stourbridge.

Ash James

representative members

Minister's Meeting

Mr. Malcolm Sadler
Malcolm, a third generation Unitarian, is a member of the Warwick Unitarians Congregation, serving the Congregation as its Musical Director since 1959 and was Lay Leader from 1982 - 2006. In latter years he has also provided leadership for the Banbury Fellowship. He has served on the Executive Committee since 1984, as Vice-President from 1985 - 1986 and as President from 1987-1988. He is also President of the Unitarian Association for Lay Ministry and Secretary of Warwickshire and Neighbouring Counties Monthly Meeting of Protestant Dissenting Ministers.

Mr. Malcolm Sadler

Women's League

Rev. Ann Latham
Following her retirement from the Ministry in Lancashire, Ann moved to the Midlands and is now Minister Emeritus to our Kidderminster congregation. She had previously served as Minister of the Todmorden and Oldham Group and was then appointed as Assistant District Minster of the Manchester District Association, She then became District Minster of the MDA, combining this with Ministerial responsibility for the Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Dob Lane Chapel, Failsworth and the Oldham Unitarian congregations. In addition, she was responsible for Unitarian Outreach in the Manchester District. She was also until recently a member of the GA Social Responsibility and Penal Affairs Panels. A member of the Women’s League since 1976, she is a Past National President of the League. Ann now lives in Halesowen and has just retired for the second time !

Rev. Ann Latham