Who’s Who

Vicar: Revd Sarah Liebert

I have been the Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Stonebridge, since January 2019. I’m not fond of being photographed and anyway in church you can usually spot which one is me by the vestments I’m wearing, but we all have to do things we don’t like sometimes. There are plenty of things I do like: worshipping and praying to God in so many different ways, studying in and about the Bible, especially doctrine and Biblical Hebrew, discussing the faith and participating in prayer groups, art, writing, cooking and attempting to grow things. Before moving to the Diocese of London I worked in churches on the other side of the River Thames, and prior to that I was a computer programmer. Some things I love about Stonebridge: meeting some wonderful warm and caring people, working in a really beautiful church (not biased at all), Roundwood Park and the canal, being able to buy plantains in the local shops…

Our team

Running a church requires a large and dedicated team with varied skills. There is always room for a few more willing volunteers to help out, so do ask, and we shall undoubtedly be able to find something useful for you to do.

A group of licensed and commissioned lay ministers collaborates in leading our worship on Sundays and throughout the week. There are also volunteers giving musical, teaching, reading, intercessions and practical support for each service, and people behind the scenes ensuring our church facilities are ready on Sundays and other days.

Our churchwardens, elected or re-elected each year, have the legal responsibility for the fabric of the building. The church administration depends on volunteers who are elected by the congregation to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) which meets eight to ten times a year. People who are active communicants in the congregation and take a regular part in helping with the church’s needs may be nominated for election to the Parochial Church Council. This is supported by a senior management team called the Standing Committee, taking some routine and some urgent decisions. There are also special interest groups to make recommendations to the vicar, council and congregation such as the Growing in Faith Group and the Heating Meeting. In addition, we have trained people in specialised posts such as the Safeguarding Officer to implement our policy to keep everyone in the church safe, and our Treasurer looking after our accounts.

Licensed Lay Minister

Agatha Hallal: LLM

Licensed Lay MINISTer,CHURCHWARDEN, Treasurer and Safeguarding Officer

Agatha is a long standing member of St Michael and All Angels Church, serving for over twenty years, including as our Churchwarden, Treasurer and Safeguarding Officer. She has brought together many threads of training and experience in becoming a Licensed Lay Minister having served as an evangelist and preacher for many years, and is a seasoned praise and worship leader at our services. After a long and satisfying career in education she has taken something called “retirement” but still appears to be very busy on behalf of all our church members, especially the littler ones.

PCC Secretary: MICHELLE GRAY

The PCC Secretary takes minutes at our meetings and is responsible for other paperwork and administration. (Michelle is also a lay representative on Deanery Synod.)

PCC Members: all the above plus:

Helen Burgess and iva purcell.

Isobel Crawford

Isobel is a longstanding church member who is trained in pastoral ministry, leads our weekly Prayer Fellowship, and has been our sacristan and repository of knowledge about the church building and equipment for many years.

Organist

EDWARD WATTS

We are delighted to have our longstanding music director Eddie back with us now that COVID regulations permit live music once again.