About Us
Today
We are evangelical and welcome all Christians from any denomination or background. We are also part of the Church of England and as such believe that the 39 Articles of Religion, along with the historic creeds are an excellent summary of fundamental Christian truths. Our own statement of faith, signed by all Elders and staff, can be seen under vision and beliefs.
History
The original Christ Church Down Street building was erected in 1865 as a new parish church for this corner of Mayfair. The congregation has varied enormously over the years including, at the beginning of her married life, Mary, Princess Royal (daughter of George V) whose letters record her enormous affection for the congregation here. Sadly, the church was closed for Anglican worship in the 1990s until a new congregation launched a few years ago.
Christ Church Mayfair began in January 2001 with a 6:30pm congregation planted from St Helen’s Bishopsgate, largely consisting of young professionals and students. Although an Anglican church enthusiastically supported by the Bishop of London, it originally took the name of: The Bible Talks. Happily, church family members married and had children, and so in October 2004 we began a service at 10:15am with crèche and Sunday School groups for children of all ages. Across the two congregations you will find people committed to grow in their love and commitment to Jesus Christ and one another as we learn form the Bible together.
Staff
Matt Fuller - Senior Minister
Matt became a Christian during his time at university through the faithful lifestyle and witness of some friends. He met his wife Ceri there, although it took 7 years before he finally ground her down and she agreed to marry him. They are very grateful to God for their son, Nathan.
Before training for ministry, Matt taught history and politics at secondary schools in Birmingham and London. He was on the staff of this church when it was planted in January 2001 and now gets nervous when he has to leave the city centre and venture into the countryside.
He still enjoys reading History and Politics books (for fun!), but nothing gives him greater joy than seeing someone come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Matt Lloyd - Assistant Minister
Matt grew up in a Christian home and was brought up knowing that God exists. When he was a young teenager he can remember understanding that he needed to be forgiven by God and the wonderful news that Jesus had died to make that possible. Matt joined Christ Church Mayfair in 2009 and has particular responsibility for the ‘Knowing God’ midweek Bible study groups.
He used to be an English teacher and loves ball sports, Bounty chocolate bars and watching slapstick comedy. He likes swimming in the sea but dislikes getting fit.
Simon Pedley - Assistant Minister
Simon can’t remember a time when he didn’t believe Jesus’s death on the cross was what he needed most, and is very grateful to God (and his parents!) for that. At Imperial College he studied physics and - more enjoyably - met his wife Tree. Their son Joel was born in 2009. Simon has worked for a local council’s education service and a stockbroking firm, as well as several years on a church’s staff before his formal theological training. He joined Christ Church Mayfair in 2010, and his main areas of responsibility are the student and music ministries. Loves include music (listening, playing, writing), films and food - anyone for dim sum?
Sharon Peters - Administrator
Sharon was brought up going to church, but it was only in her first year of work post-university that the Holy Spirit opened her eyes to see that being good wasn’t going to get her into heaven and that it was only possible through the death of the Lord Jesus, which was, and still is, a big relief and great joy.
After working in publishing for seven years, she found herself being administrator of the church where she put her faith in Jesus. After 15 years in Oxford she made the slightly scary move to London and the job of administrator here.
Sharon loves cooking, travelling, reading and flat walks.
Richard Criddle - International Worker/Children's Worker
Richard was brought up in a Christian home and would always have called himself a Christian, but it was at university that he started to read the Bible seriously and became convinced that it hangs together and God truly speaks when it is read. Richard has recently taken over the International work at Christ Church Mayfair, and continues to coordinate the Children’s work on a Sunday morning.
The days when Richard had no responsibilities and could spend all his time messing around in the theatre are long gone, so he makes up for it by jumping at any chance to go and see a play in London.
Jason Roach - Westminster@1 Worker
Jason became a Christian at university when confronted with the evidence for the resurrection and the compelling life of Jesus. He is married to Rachel who is a full time mum to their two children Evie and Esther. Previously, Jason worked as a doctor and then as a medical journalist in London. He likes to think that he’s “still got it” by pre-empting House’s diagnoses when watching the TV series and writing whenever he can.
Sarah Farrar-Bell - Women's Worker
Sarah cannot remember a time when she has not known the Lord Jesus as someone real and part of family life when growing up, but she does remember aged eight asking her mother if they could pray together to ask Him to be her own Saviour and Lord. A great encouragement and help in getting to know the Lord better was going to Christian holiday parties as a teenager where she was encouraged to learn to rely on God’s word and to see that living with Christ and for His glory is indeed a life with joy and purpose. Since leaving university many years ago she have been a pastoral assistant in a university church, taught French, and married Charlie, a Maths teacher in a boarding school. They have 3 children (2 sons at university and a daughter in her last year at school). More recently she was working part-time in the Registrar’s office at her husband’s school. She loves her family, would love to have a lovely garden one day! and really enjoys meeting friends for coffee…
Ruth Riordan - Women's Worker
Ruth was brought up going to church and doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t believe in God or trust His love for her. However, she looks back on her three years studying in London as a turning point in her Christian faith. The Lord took her to a church where Jesus’ voice could be clearly heard through his words in the Bible being taught faithfully each week, and wonderfully she came to know and understand the good news about Him in a clearer, deeper, life-goal-changing and worldview-altering way! Since then, by His grace, she’s continued to grow as a Christian and understand more deeply what it means to submit her life to Jesus’ Lordship. Before joining the team at Christ Church Mayfair, Ruth spent five years as the women’s worker for a midweek ministry in the City called ‘The Aldersgate Talks’. She loves living in London, drinking tea, sunbathing on sunny beaches and being a bit creative with a sewing machine or a paintbrush when she gets the time.
Elders
Marc Döring
Marc became a Christian in February 2003 (age 32) having finally investigated the claims made by Jesus in the Bible. He is married to Camilla, and they have three children Lucy (born October 2006), Guy (born August 2008) and Abigail (born January 2012). Marc is a solicitor who specialises in intellectual property law, in particular patent litigation. He is a partner in a City law firm, which he joined in 1995. He loves time with his family, skiing, playing golf and watching international rugby.
Charles Farrar-Bell
Charles first came to understand the Gospel through his school Christian meeting and knows that he opened the door to Jesus at a Titus Trust camp in August 1976 aged 18.
He is married to Sarah who not only looks after him and their children (Henry, Johnny and Iona), she also works part-time with women as part of the church staff. Charles teaches maths there and also organises Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and cross country running, among other things. He helps run the school Christian meeting and Bible studies for the boys. In the school holidays the F-Bs often decamp to Norfolk where they enjoy gardening, sailing and taking Rosie (a Labrador) for walks.
Hugh Gittins
Hugh thinks he started following the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of about 11, although like many aspects of his life this recollection is somewhat vague; what he does know is that, at university, he was confronted with the reality that the resurrection actually happened in history, so Jesus is alive today and it is worth following him wholeheartedly. He shares a flat with a friend.
Hugh works as a lawyer in central London, specialising in the area of pensions. He loves singing, playing tennis, hill walking, reading and cooking (both his own and other people’s).
Simon Hallett
Simon was brought up in a large Christian family in West London, and made a personal commitment to Christ in his early teens on a summer ‘Crusader’ camp.
He read music at Cambridge, followed by a post-graduate year studying Double Bass and conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is now part of the orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
Simon is married to Catriona and together they lead the Vauxhall Homegroup. He likes cricket, New World wines, and 1970’s classic cars but dislikes public transport!
Andy Knight
Andy was privileged to be brought up in a Christian family, although it was not until he was 11 that he realised that Jesus’ promise of eternal life demanded personal response.
He is married to Vicky, and works in London for a management consultancy firm.
Roger Loosley
Roger became a Christian when he was at a boys’ houseparty on the Isle of Wight. He heard that he could only be saved from the eternal consequences of his sins by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour.
He is married to Judith; they have two married daughters (Emma and Kate) - one in London and one in the Kingdom of Fife (Scotland) - and four grandchildren (Katie, Lucy, Fergus and Sophie). Judith keeps busy keeping her husband, father, and the grandchildren under control. Roger is a solicitor (specialising in IT contracts, joint ventures and general commercial work). He is a passionate supporter of London Wasps and England’s Rugby Union team.
Andre Malan
Andre is blessed to have been brought up by Christian parents and has been a Christian since his mid-teens. He is married to Ginny and lives in Wandsworth.
For much of his time during the week, Andre works as a business consultant on large IT projects, however he’d rather be out snowboarding, mountain biking, travelling, or just reading a good book.
Andrew Robertson
Having spent several years attending church and asking questions about Christianity, Andrew came to faith just after university. He initially worked in business for 7 years and is now a teacher of Economics and Business in a secondary school, where he also helps with the Christian Union. Hailing from Scotland the great outdoors always beckons and he enjoys skiing, surfing, tennis and the occasional ceilidh.
Apprentices
Alex Wingrove
Alex grew up in a non-Christian family, but became a Christian during his 3rd year of University in Newcastle through conversations with his girlfriend and doing a Christianity Explored course. Alex assists with the men’s work at Christ Church Mayfair.
He loves sport, mainly rugby and American football. He also loves to eat and cook food, especially curry.
Chris Hanning
Chris grew up in a Christian family but took a while to cotton on to God’s free offer of forgiveness, accepting that gift towards the end of university. Soon afterwards he moved to London and remarkably is still here; before embarking on the apprenticeship he most recently worked as a sub editor for a few years. Chris doesn’t like running or sultanas but enjoys climbing hills and watching and playing any form of cricket.
Dave Wakefield
Dave was brought up in a Christian Family but it wasn’t until he was 16 that he really started to believe that Jesus had died for him. He moved to London to study Philosophy where he was greatly humbled but also started to go to ChristChurch Mayfair. A|fter finishing his degree Dave decided to look into full time Gospel ministry and applied for the apprenticeship. Dave enjoys Rugby, Reading, History and the occasional visit to the Pub with friends.
Nathan Richards
Nathan grew up in a Christian home where his parents helped him to understand the Good News about Jesus’ death and resurrection from an early age. While on holiday in the Lake District aged eight, the realisation that Jesus died on the cross for him kicked in, and since then has continued to explore the wonders of God’s wonderful grace. Before starting the Apprenticeship Nathan studied for four years at the Royal Academy of Music on the Trumpet, and toured to China, France and worked with a Orchestra in Portugal for a Summer season. As well as being a huge Manchester United fan, Nathan enjoys playing/watching any sports and eating good food!
Ryan Muir
Ryan became a Christian on an Oakhall family trip back in Christmas 2005 during his last year of Uni and then started going to a church. During his last few months he went to China and studied Chinese for 3 years in Beijing. During that time he understood what it really meant to be a Christian and then after a lot of prayer and consulting wise Christians in Beijing he felt God wanted him to come back to the UK and study. This was in 2009. However a week after that he ended up meeting this wonderful Chinese girl called Lulu and 6 months later they got engaged and 6 months after that they got married. After a year together in Beijing they moved to London to go to Cornhill together. Ryan will work as an apprentice for CCM from 2011 - 2013 and hopes to be able to make some Chinese friends and help them know more about Jesus and his wonderful saving grace. Ryan favourite pastime has been rollerblading and teaching people how to rock climb, but mostly enjoys speaking Chinese to new Chinese friends in London!
Nick Lambert
Nick was taken to church from a young age by his Mum. It was here that he was faithfully taught the gospel in both in church as well as in the youth group. He became a Christian when he was 14 when God opened his eyes to understand the good news about Jesus. He really grew as a Christian during his university years and it is here where he met his wife, Becca. They were married in March 2007 and now have a boy called Ben. Nick loves spending time with his family, loves playing and watching most sports and also enjoys films and good food.
Christ Church Mayfair is affiliated with the Co-Mission Initiative; a network of churches which co-operate together for the purpose of encouragement, training and church planting. Our sister churches include St. John’s Chelsea; Emmanuel Fulham; Christ Church Earlsfield; Dundonald Church Wimbledon; Christ Church Balham; Fairfield Church Kingston; as well as lunchtime ministries here in Mayfair and in Westminster.
For more information about the Co-Mission and the other congregations see their website.
Link: Co-Mission website
For more information on the apprenticeship scheme, see courses and events
