Who’s who at St James - Wardens
Paul Ellerby - Warden
I recently updated my CV where I describe myself as 'a committed Christian, dedicated husband and an enthusiastic dad.'
I became a Christian in 1990, met Catherine at St Paul's Finchley soon after and we were married there in 1992. The following year Luke (now 16) was born, followed by Grace (13), Titus (9) and Evangeline (4). We live in East Finchley and the children now attend Fortismere and St James schools. Family leisure time is usually spent following the children's sporting and other activities but I enjoy cooking at home, dining out and occasional trips to Hampstead Heath for a 'country' walk.
My current work has just come to an unexpected end but we are seeing God work in ways that are just as unexpected. I have been working in the travel and tourism industry for 25 years and mainly involved in sales and marketing.
Our life at St James began as occasional visitors to 'Sunday@5'. Then in May 2006 we decided to make it our home church. I joined a midweek 'Christian Discipleship' course and was struck by how committed people were to using this time to wrestle with scripture. After a year I became a group leader and again the commitment to meeting around God's word for training was something I had not experienced before. I enjoyed being a part of the leadership team for 'Sunday@5' until it ended in the summer and that service will always hold special memories for us. However, things move on and change happens so now you will find me at the 6pm and occasionally at the 9.30am service.
Some of you will know Catherine who has been on the staff team since 2006 and together we coordinate the support we give to JP and Sue Aranzulla our missionary partners in Bologna. We also host a pastorate group in our home and have found this is a great way in such a large church for people to get to know each other and to get more involved.
Many of my passions are expressed in some ways by what I have already said but as a church warden I would want to encourage everyone to play their part in the body of Christ and to help make our services and activities open and accessible to everyone in Muswell Hill.
'Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost', if we have been found and we are saved – let's carry on his work in the strength of his Spirit.
Kay Carter - Warden
Kay moved to Muswell Hill in 2004 with her husband, Guy, when she was heavily pregnant with their eldest daughter. St James was the first church they visited in the area and have been coming along regularly ever since. They host a pastorate at their home on Tuesday nights and for the past year she has been secretary to the PCC. Kay also helps to write and produce the church’s community newsletter In Your Parish.
They attend the 9.30am service, along with their two daughters: Lila, who is six, and Cecily, who is three. One of the things Kay is most grateful to St James for is the amazing teaching the children receive each week in Promiseland.
Kay loves being part of a church that is so firmly rooted in its community, with many members who have lived and worshipped here for decades. She is really excited about the new initiatives that have been set up over the past couple of years to serve local people with specific needs, and as Warden would love to support these projects and the amazing people who run them.