The wider leadership team would be classed as “deacons” in biblical language but that sounds a bit old fashioned, (even more so than “elders”). These wonderful people lead in the many areas of church activity that are essential to church life.

Gill Bray (Worship Team, Ladies Discipleship Group and Early Morning Prayer Meeting)

Gill was born into a Christian home and made the decision to follow Jesus at a Billy Graham meeting in 1984. Having graduated from Newcastle University, she taught Mathematics in secondary and middle schools until taking early retirement in 2017. She now works with three charities: Shilbottle Community Hall, Shilbottle Children and Young People’s Project and Amicale Hery-Shilbottle Association. Gill is married to Joss and has two sons and three grandsons. She enjoys a variety of arts and crafts, playing badminton and singing. Her passions are worshipping Jesus, facilitating others to be able worship Jesus and seeing women being released to be the women Jesus wants them to be and seeing men released to be the men Jesus wants them to be.

Sarah Fenwick (Catering, Projection Team)

Sarah attended a Methodist Sunday School as a child but after walking away from the church in her teens, declared Jesus as her Saviour in 2011.  She has been married to Paul for ten years. Professionally Sarah has worked as a Prison Officer in a Therapeutic Community, Social Worker and self-employed courier and is currently the Church and Tenant Empowerment Worker for Gateway into Life, a Northumberland based Christian Charity providing supported accommodation to the homeless.  Sarah is committed to serving the Church and enjoys being out and about with her husband and pet dog and reading murder mystery novels. 

Mark Van Schalkwyk (Technical Team)

Brian Verity (Big Breakfast)

Susan Whitworth (Kids Work, Shilbottle Discipleship Group)

Susan was brought up to attend church regularly but came to a personal relationship with Jesus only in her late teens. When she was at University in Sheffield she met her husband, Graham; they married and went to live (until 2023) in Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, becoming part of what became Open Door Church Sunbury.  She has taught Maths since 1978, at first in a secondary school and more recently as a private tutor. She has fulfilled many roles in the church over the years including children’s work. She has also been involved in the Women’s Institute for over 20 years and loves reading and feeding and entertaining guests.

Graham Whitworth (Shilbottle Discipleship Group)

Graham became a Christian at a young people’s camp when he was 13.  He met his wife Susan through the Christian Union at University, and they have a daughter who is a teacher in Newcastle.  He practised as a solicitor in outer London for 38 years until his retirement in 2017, before moving from Middlesex to Northumberland in 2023.  He has served in various local church roles over the years, has lectured on WordPlus (a Newfrontiers training course) and was a trustee of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship from 2011 to 2017.   He loves studying the Bible and is passionate about restoring New Testament Church.   He is a lifelong railway enthusiast and building another model railway is one of his retirement aspirations yet to be fulfilled.

Heather Hardwick (Amble Prayer Meeting)

Heather has been a Christian since being taken to church as a little girl and making a personal decision to follow Jesus. She is married to Steve & they have two sons and four grandchildren. She retired from her work in social care to Northumberland three years ago and has enjoyed becoming part of Gateway Church Northumberland. Heather is very drawn to Amble where they live and loves praying with the church family for God’s favour on the town and seeking to do God’s calling in the heart of the community. She feels very blessed to live in such a beautiful part of Northumberland and loves to walk along the coast with her two dogs, Charlie & Sprocket. Heather also loves cosy fireside reading especially local authors and understanding the history and adventures of the area. She is a creative home maker, has a gift of hospitality and loves welcoming people and enjoys sharing this wonderful area with visitors.

Steve Hardwick (Amble Discipleship Group)

Steve has been a Christian since age 18 when he joined a church in Lincoln and met his wife, Heather. They have lived in Lincoln and Masham, North Yorkshire for all their adult lives and were delighted to relocate to Northumberland when Steve retired. Steve is passionate about understanding the history of Amble and how the church can contribute to the life of the local community. He loves to serve the Lord practically and is currently a member of the PA team and a Discipleship Group Leader at Gateway Church Northumberland and a Trustee of the Gateway into Life charity that seeks to address homelessness in our local area. Steve loves an adventure and is an active Sea Kayaker, Motorcyclist, and Cyclist as well as a volunteer Blood Courier with Northumbria Blood Bikes.

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