Who's who:

Priest-in-Charge 

Revd. Richard Chand

I was brought up in Handsworth, Birmingham and moved to Oxford after I finished secondary school. I worked 41 years in the Post Office Counters Business. After a spiritual experience I felt called to 'serve the Lord'. After some short theological courses, I was licensed as a Lay Reader in 1998 at St Mary’s, Headington, Oxford. I started a distance learning Bth degree Course but in 2002 I was put forward for SAOMC training to become my Parish’s SSM. I was ordained in 2005 as Deacon and as a Non-stipendiary Priest in 2006. After my curacy and then after an agreed time I was put forward to become ‘House for Duty’ within the Cowley Parish Ministry Team. With this experience I was able to apply for stipendiary incumbency posts. With passion for building and growing the Kingdom of God I was successful in being appointed Priest in Charge at St. Paul’s Parish, Braintree. I was overjoyed in finding out that this is where God wanted me. Being a missional Priest, I felt that God has called me here to share the love of God to all God’s people. Moreover, for us to discover together that Jesus did indeed come in order we can live our lives to the full, and contribute together to become a flourishing community.

Churchwarden/Treasurer - Philip Self

As warden, Philip ensures the physical upkeep of the church building. He also oversees the administrative and financial running of the church, and makes sure that we are serving God well in the local community.

Churchwarden/Pastoral Assistant - Marina Parker

Marina shares the wardenship of St Paul's with Philip. As the Pastoral Assistant, she also heads up the pastoral care team in the church, as well as leading special pastorally-focused morning prayers on a Tuesday. Marina is a mother and a grandmother, and her interests include reading and playing darts.

Evangelism Enabler - Gordon Currie

It is Gordon's job to ensure that the good news is proclaimed loudly and clearly throughout the parish and beyond. He has run sessions on testimony-telling before, and also been involved in Alpha courses. He is a regular contributor to the 'True Direction' slot, the all-age sermon that we have on a Sunday morning every second week of the month.

The PCC

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the executive committee of the parish of St Paul's. It consists of clergy and the churchwardens of the parish, together with representatives of the laity. Legally, the council is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the maintenance of its assets, such as the church building, and for promoting the mission of the church.

Following the Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church Meeting held in May 2022, the PCC members are as follows.

Churchwardens: Philip Self (Lay Chair & Treasurer), Marina Parker (Pastoral Assistant).

Lay members of Deanery Synod: Gordon Currie

Lay members of the PCC: Jenny Williamson (Assistant Churchwarden, Gift Aid and Free Will Giving Officer), Julie Hawtin (Secretary and Electoral Roll Officer), Matt Harding (Health and Safety Representative), Paul Killingback, Matt Farmer, Clare Craig, 

Appointments in brackets were agreed at the PCC meeting following the APCM. Pam Self, though not a member of the PCC, continues her appointment as the Parish Safeguarding Officer.