​I’m Al. I’m a presbyter and I’ve just moved down with my family from Manchester, where I spent the last twelve years focused on Fresh Expressions Church at Sanctus1 and Nexus Art cafe, in the basement of Manchester Central Hall. This was a great opportunity to de-velop a form of church which engages with those who don’t go to church.

​I see the purpose of church is to grow disciples (both inside and outside the church) with a view that if we, as the people of the world, were more Christ-like, then the world would be an amazing place, or more amazing than it already is.  I am studying for a PhD on this top-ic, so I am always keen to talk to anyone about what we might mean by discipleship.

I have a background in engineering and business; I like playing sport (I’m a poor spectator) and will prefer to cycle than drive anytime. I spend much of my free time with the family.

Blessings. 

Hi. I am Brenton Prigge, an English speaking South African, with Afrikaans as a second language, a rough understanding of German, and a smattering of Zulu. I also understand ‘Stralian, having lived and ministered in Australia for eleven years before moving to the UK in February 2020. I am now trying to learn to speak Janner!

I joined the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit in September of 2020.

My wife, Ann, was born in Minehead, Somerset – hence our move here to be closer to family. Our two adult children both continue to live in Australia. We miss them like crazy!

​I love to work with congregations to connect with the communities around them, and especially to find ways of being inclusive of children of all ages in the life, witness and worship of the church. I love using story, music and creativity to share God’s great love for us in Jesus.

Nature is a ‘thin place for me’ where I more easily come close to God – walking, bird watching, and scuba diving. I volunteer a day a week at a local Scuba Dive Centre working primarily with home educated children at a local dive centre, which helps me to remain connected to the community outside the church.

Hi, I’m Amanda and I have just taken up post in the lovely town of Ivybridge. Being Cornish born and bred, I am thrilled to be back living in the South West.

I was always aware of Jesus’s presence with me as a child, but came to fullness of faith in Him as a teenager.  I met and married Mark, who had just returned from spending some years on board the MV Logos evangelist ship, with Operation Mobilisation. Following his ordination to the Methodist ministry, we served the Church together in Basingstoke, Swindon and Greater Manchester. Along the way, we had two daughters, and I also completed my presbyteral training for ministry. Sadly Mark developed M.E. some years ago and so is no longer able to work, but writes poetry and is working on a novel, based on his family history. Rosie, a rescue pup from Bosnia, now completes our family. 

I like to craft, love baking and enjoy watching movies. Being with my family, however, is still my favourite way of spending time. The other thing you need to know about me is that Jesus means everything to me!  He is my foundation, and my hope and joy.  My prayer is for His Holy Spirit to be poured out in fresh and creative ways, so that individuals will be healed, delivered and saved; and that communities will be transformed by the power of His love. Having just completed seven years looking after a cluster of churches in East Sussex, I am delighted to be working for and serving the Lord in Devon, and look forward to all that Jesus will do in our midst. 

Greetings! My name is Darren Middleton, a Yorkshire man born and bred!I joined the Plymouth & Devonport Methodist Circuit in 2019,  following my service as a Military Chaplain within the Royal Army Chaplains Department from 2013 - 2019 (I served with 1RHA & 29 CDO REGT RA). One of my biggest achievements in the Army is that at the age of 44, I passed the All Arms Commando Course, CTCRM, Lympston, and got my green beret!

​I began my  journey as a Methodist Minister in Cardiff, 2008 - 2013, after training for ministry at Cliff College and UTU (Urban Theology Unit).

I am married to Anne (who also serves the Circuit as the Performing Arts Mission Enabler) and we have a daughter Grace, a dog (Poppy) and a cat (Fred Astaire). The cat’s name is pretty apt as I was a professional dancer performing in the West End productions of Cats and Grease and also appearing in TV and Film. I have an older daughter, Abby, who is 25 years old and lives in Liverpool, who also treads the boards.

I am passionate about the all-inclusive embrace of God’s grace and love and I am delighted to be serving the Methodist Church here in the Plymouth & Devonport Circuit.

Allow me to finish with a Yorkshire blessing…

God bless you!

God bless you real good!

I have lived in Plymouth for most of my life, growing up in Plympton which is where I now live with my husband, Ian, and daughter, Erin. As a probationer presbyter, I have pastoral charge of both Woodford and Elburton Methodist Churches.

For the past three years, I have been studying part time for a BA degree in Theology, Ministry and Mission at The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham and will continue this training for the next three years while working on the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit.

Prior to this, I worked in secondary education for 24 years taking on a variety of teaching roles including Careers and Sixth Form Leader. I was accredited as a Local Preacher by the Methodist Church in 2020 by which time I had already begun to hear God calling me to presbyteral ministry.

To relax, I love the theatre, both watching and as a performer. I am a member of the Wranglers Theatre Company and have enjoyed ‘starring’ roles as Gertrude the Goose in Mother Goose and the front end of the cow in Jack and the Beanstalk where I showed off my tap dancing skills! I promise I play normal roles as well! My other passion is books and reading (I am also a professionally qualified librarian) and I avidly collect children’s books from the early to mid twentieth century.

My theology is one of inclusivity and I hold to the idea that God’s love is for everyone through the saving grace bestowed on us by Jesus’ death on the cross. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus told his disciples that his first and greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. The second commandment is to Love your neighbour as yourself” and it is by these that I try to live my life.

It is such a joy to serve as a Lay Pastor, to care for my congregation, to conduct weddings, christenings and funerals, and, best of all, to be able to preside at the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. 

Most of my career was as a maths teacher, culminating in becoming a maths consultant and adviser and with a swansong as a lecturer at Plymouth University.  The beauty, symmetry and problem-solving of mathematics can readily be perceived from a spiritual perspective.

​I have 2 grown up sons and 3 grandchildren all of whom are such a big part of my life.  ​Music has always been a part of my life.  I was a professional singer at one point and came close to joining Sadlers Wells Opera Company…but I settled for a career in teaching, but always enjoying my love of singing and acting.      

I joined the PDMC as PAME in January 2020 – an exciting new role to create a pioneering arts mission. I created the PAM logo – a spotlight on the cross – because I am passionate about the power of theatre and the arts to touch the soul and transform lives, with the message of the hope we have in Jesus. 

I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Bristol, followed by eighteen years in London; I moved to London to do a degree in Drama and English and began working as a professional actress in a Christian context while I was still studying (thirty years ago!) My work has been a mixture of theatre and therapy and I also have an MA in Dramatherapy. I got married in 2007 and have followed my husband all around the country since then! I am very happy to have ended up in Plymouth and am proud to be a member of the Plymouth Military Wives Choir. 

I’m married to the dazzling Rev. Darren Middleton (Minister of Woodford, Elburton and Pennycross Churches) and Mum to gorgeous Grace. Darren also has a background in theatre and I can occasionally persuade him to perform in support of my role!