Staff and Leadership

Please find below an introduction to our church leaders and staff members.


Vacancy - Vicar		Revd John Bell - Curate
		Originally from Durham, I moved south for university where I studied Aerospace Engineering before spending 20 years in engineering in Hampshire (briefly) then Hertfordshire, where I spent 18 years with the same company. I felt God calling me to ministry a long time before I actually got to a place where I could do something about it but God was patient and he got me eventually. I began exploring a call to ordained ministry in 2013, and started training through the Eastern Region Ministry Course in 2016, while continuing to work full time. In 2019, I was ordained, and began my curacy here at Christ Church. I am married to Rebecca and we have two wonderful children, Sophie and Daniel.


Ruth Hulme - Children's Minister		Pauline Grimley - Parish Administrator / Office Manager
I spent the first ten years of my life in West Lothian, Scotland and I was later brought up in Lancashire. In a primary competition I won an award for poetry recitation and ever since primary I have most enjoyed story writing, drama and dance. I chose to study at Cliff College and completed my BA Theology in 2018. I was proud to have achieved a 2:1 and a 1st in my dissertation on the persecuted church. I am keen to do my part in fulfilling God's great commission, and be a practical theologian in the 21st century using my vision for a creative church, with the emphasis on reaching children. I have used my passion for performing arts in children's ministry since volunteering working for St Stephen's Society, NISCU and The Methodist Church as well as specialising in Mission Placement during my degree. Through Cliff College I met my husband Benjamin who is also passionate about mission. We are both happy to be settling in Christ Church Bedford.		Born in Henley on Thames, educated in Guildford, Surrey and Aberystwyth, I came to Bedford for work over twenty years ago. I taught History and other humanities subjects at Harlington Upper School from 1989 to 2011, when I decided to leave to do other things and to escape the increasingly frequent changes in education. I joined the staff team as part-time office manager in spring 2013 and have come to understand what the job entails. As far as I can gather I am expected to know everything and everyone at Christ Church, but people are very understanding when I don’t know the answer or can’t give them what they want, immediately. I am married to Vandon, who is often to be found up a ladder at church and the newest resident of our household is Harpurr (born June 2013) the one real feline in our cat and book filled home.


Dawn Hire - Bookings Administrator		Vacancy - Youth Minister

Ben Hulme - Social Media

Kay Berrington - Church Warden		Andrew Russell - Church Warden

If you need to contact the Church please visit the Contact Us page.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Our 9:00am service is traditional in style and lasts about 45 minutes.

Our main Sunday family service starts at 10:30am and runs for about 90 minutes, everyone gathers together at the beginning of the service. After a short time of worship together, we divide into different teaching and worship groups as children up to school year 8 leave. Our crèche however, is available from the beginning of the service.

At our all-age services (60 minutes), everyone stays together for the whole service. Our weekly notice-sheet gives details of all important events happening in the near future and some guidance on topics for prayer.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions. We are proud to be a certified Fair Trade Church.

Our 7:00pm Sunday evening service runs for about 75 minutes and adopts a more contemporary style with a focus on deeper worship and teaching.

What happens to the kids at church?

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church:

Sunday Mornings 10.30am service:

Daring Disciples - (Babies to 8 years). Our weekly group for babies to 8 year olds (school year 3).
Passports - (9-11 years) Our weekly ministry to encourage our older children in the experience and love of God, through story, worship, prayer, discussion, craft etc. Meets in room 5 during the service.

Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme. You will need to go with your children and register them, the first time they attend.

For more information about our provision for children please visit the children's work page.

What about accessibility?

There are parking spaces next to the church halls but for the 10:30am service a larger car park is available at Castle Newman School just a few yards along Goldington Road. We have step free access from both Denmark street and Dudley street and there is space for buggies and wheelchairs in the Hub area of the new halls. There are baby changing and accessible toilet facilities and a lift to the second floor. Our sound system incorporates a hearing loop.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

Men's Ministries
Women's Ministries
Students
Foodbank