Superintendent: Rev. Dr Caroline Wickens
Caroline has been a Methodist minister since 1992. She has worked in the West Midlands and as a mission partner in Zambia and Kenya. She currently works as superintendent minister of the Manchester circuit, and is enjoying getting to know this amazing city and its people.
Rev. Ken Stokes
Brought up in Cumbria, Ken left the church as a teenager but came to faith as a student. A minister for 32 years, Ken has worked mostly in Manchester. Ken is married to Lesley and they have two adult children. Ken loves talking about Jesus; is interested in autism and mental health; writes poetry and cares about social justice, gender, sexuality and green issues.
Rev. Sharon Read
Sharon has been a Methodist Minister since 2003 working in Liverpool, Wigan, Bury and now in Manchester. Sharon is married to Mike, an Anglican Vicar in Heywood, and they have 2 school-aged children. She loves finding creative ways to engage people with Jesus every day.
Paula Collins
Paula is the Lay Pastoral Assistant for 3 churches in North Manchester. She works with the Minister and Pastoral Secretaries to maintain a link with the church for those who cannot attend services regularly, or are in hospital or are in need of the support of their church family. She is the Circuit Safeguarding Officer and Trainer.
Rev. Catharine Hughes
Catharine is a proud Yorkshirewoman, who came to faith through a Rob Frost mission in her teens. She was a local preacher for 20 years before giving in to the call to presbyteral ministry. In the meantime she married and brought up her two children, including a period living in Zambia. She is looking forward to sharing creative ways of worship, and has a particular interest in financial and environmental issues.
Liz Stuart
Liz has been a Layworker in the Manchester Circuit for nearly 9 years, as a Church Community Development Worker. This is a varied and interesting role, working with all ages in both supporting and developing church activities, and seeking to provide opportunities for the local community to connect with the church.
Rachel Humphreys, Community Engagement Officer
Rachel began her role as Community Engagement Officer for the Circuit in November 2019. She is proud mother of two beautiful boys and has a degree in Psychology. Rachel’s role involves looking after the Circuit’s digital media platforms and working in conjunction with the Circuit Leadership and local church leaders to create and implement clear communication strategies; developing and maintaining an awareness of key issues across Manchester relating to the circuit’s mission priorities and building relationships with local groups sharing our priorities.
Daniel Raja, Circuit Administrator
Daniel moved into the UK in Jan 2020 with his wife and young son. His hometown is Tiruchirappalli, a city in the central part of Tamil Nadu state in South India. Daniel has an undergraduate degree in Electronics Engineering and an MBA in Operations and Marketing streams. He has worked with IT & Engineering services sectors for the past 10+ years in India and in the UK. His responsibilities were mostly around New Business Acquisitions, Account Management (Including finance), Customer relationship and Marketing initiatives.
Kimberley Osivwemu, Youth & Families
Having been a member of several different Methodist churches in the Manchester area and experienced professional practice in very different settings over the past four decades; call to serve has brought opportunity to grow and develop Safeguarding practice, particularly in Whalley Range and Fallowfield.
At a time in life that has brought survival of the covid pandemic and blessings in family increase, care and compassion for the development of church family is now a clear focus.
Church and its translation in the world has been a part of life since childhood in the Midlands of England. Prayer and devotions as an essential aspect of daily life have featured as a secure base.
The blessing of being able to actively engage in church in Manchester locations is one which is to taken wholeheartedly.
Thanks be to God. Kimberley
Julie Rowbotham, Community Worker @ Hope Methodist Church
Julie is a steward at Hope Methodist Church in Failsworth and has been a member of the Methodist church since she was 16. Julie joined because she wanted to be part of the decision making at her local church. Julie was previously a Reception class teaching assistant but has recently become Hope’s Community Worker. Julie is passionate about making a difference to people’s lives without making any judgement as she knows sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Julie married to Derek (who has a lot to put up with!) and has two grown up daughters.
Julie’s role as Hope’s Community Worker is to assess the needs of the local community, especially after Covid-19, and determine how the church can best meet those needs. Hope recently had an exciting building redevelopment leaving us with a really useable modern building which we are keen to use to benefit those who need the most support.
Rev. Paul Welch
Paul is originally from Stoke on Trent but has lived in Yorkshire since the mid 90’s before moving to Manchester. He loves playing and watching football and supports Port Vale and Leeds United. Paul is married and has two grown-up daughters, all who were born in Yorkshire. Paul has 2 roles in this current appointment, one being a circuit minister and the other as a Pioneer Minister working with the Caleb Community, coaching and mentoring people who are setting up new ways of being church. Paul has a wealth of experience working outside the walls of the traditional church through reflective walks (Walking The WAY), Photography, Sport and running a bus project. He has a passion for enabling people to come and see Jesus for themselves where they are.