About

Patrons

Our patrons are our ambassadors – a bridge between us and other denominations, organisations and parts of the country.

Each patron has been chosen for their strong links with the wider Christian community in the UK.

Mike Hill

patron-mike-hillMike is the Bishop of Bristol. After starting his working life in the printing industry, Mike joined the community at Scargill for a year in the early 1970s to test his call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. He came reluctantly at first, but he met his wife Anthea here, a nurse who had been living in Africa, and the rest is history! Mike serves on the boards of businesses, as a governor of schools and on national church bodies. He entered the House of Lords in 2009 and is a fan of Manchester United.


Dave Bookless

patron-dave-booklessDave is director for theology, churches & sustainable communities and co-founder of A Rocha UK. He grew up in India and has variously been a teacher, debt-collector, vicar, lecturer and barman. He has a national and international speaking and writing ministry, and published Planetwise through IVP in 2008.


Frank Field

patron-frank-fieldFrank is currently Member of Parliament for Birkenhead. He has been director of the Child Poverty Action Group and of the Low Pay Unit. He became an MP in 1979 and has served as shadow education and social security spokesman, chairman of the Social Security Select Committee, and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee. He was the minister for welfare reform in Tony Blair’s first cabinet. Frank helped set up the Pension Reform Group and has chaired the Church Conservation Trust. Since 2005 he has been chairman of the Cathedral Fabrics Commission for England and in 2007 took on chairing the 2011 Trust (established to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible).


Paul Butler

patron-paul-butlerPaul is Bishop of Durham. Prior to that he was in parish ministry and served as an area dean, as an evangelist with Scripture Union, and as chair of CMS (Church Mission Society). He has particular interests in world mission, especially in Natal, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. In 2004 he was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the advocate for children of behalf of the bishops. He has written several books. He and his wife have four children.


Rev Roberta Rominger

patron-roberta-romingerRoberta is general secretary of the United Reformed Church. She has spent her entire career serving the church. She was born in New York State and grew up in California, where she obtained a BA in music. Roberta has been a URC minister in Arizona, Newcastle, Surrey and London and was previously moderator of the church’s Thames North Synod. She enjoys playing the cello in chamber music ensembles. Roberta is married to a retired URC minister and lives in London.


Warren J Smith

patron-warren-smithJP Warren was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Manchester in 2007 and is a retired businessman. He has served as a member of Manchester Council for Community Relations and in 1994 founded Progress Trust (developing initiatives throughout BME communities). His voluntary activities have been focused on social exclusion and the arts as a driver for regeneration. Among his many other contributions, Warren has been chairman of the Millennium Quarter Trust, chairman of the charity Turning Point, deputy chairman of mental health services of Salford (NHS Trust), and a member of the Greater Manchester Police Policy Committee on Drug Misuse. He is an honorary member of The Lowry and chairman of Manchester Concert Hall Trust. As Lord Lieutenant, he focuses on projects which recognise the achievements of young people, the growth of the Cadet Forces and other organisations which support young people in becoming better citizens.

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