Kirkoswald and Alston Moor
Penrith, Florida CA10 1EW
01298 687164

• Education: I have been educated in and around Bakewell until I left school. I then joined the Derbyshire Police and remained in the area working for the past 32 years. I am now a custody Sgt at Buxton Police Station, and can retire, having served my 30 years. I became a lay preacher with the Methodist Church in the mid 90’s and preach at Chapels within the beautiful Peak District National Park.
• Experience: I have preached to congregations as small as 1 and as large as 150. I have been able to draw on my life and work experiences within the police to preach on subjects, which can be occasionally confrontational and thought provoking. I have recently felt the call to the ministry and I am exploring this. I am also an assistant Chaplain in the Agricultural Christian Fellowship. I do God’s work among local farmers.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: I hope that I am able to put a part of me into the sermon that makes it become real. I try to be powerful with my preaching and spend many hours preparing. I often return to it time and again to change and make alterations.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: I once preached a sermon on coming to God in which I asked people to stand up and dedicate themselves to God and to make a commitment. A lot of people were moved and took up that opportunity to show their commitment to God. People later told me how they had been moved by the service.
• Family: I am married with a son, Christopher, who is 14 years old.
• What my parents think of my sermons: They seem to be proud of my achievements and my preaching. My great grandfather was also a Wesleyan Preacher.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: My wife is a Lay Preacher and is very supportive of my preaching. She is a good critic who gives me new ideas and together we enjoy putting a service together. As I prepare sermons I get inspiration from her, which I really value.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: When you have finished saying what you have got to say then shut up and sit down. "When you strike oil stop boring."
• Books that have had an impact: Brother Yun - a Chinese Christian, who has been persecuted and tortured for his beliefs.
• Hobbies: I am a farmers son and enjoy all things with an agricultural theme. I have kept poultry and pigs in my garden! I live in a small village near to Bakewell. I am currently enjoying researching my family tree. I am self taught on the piano and organ and often end up playing services at local Churches.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: You reap what you sow.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: When my son was 6 years old I took him with me to take a church service he sat with me in the pulpit. As I began the prayers and got to the part where I allowed silence for people’s own personal prayer a little voice whispered to me "Dad I need the toilet" Luckily it didn’t detract from the prayers.
• What I want on my tombstone: He worked as hard as he could and now he takes his eternal rest