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Other staff
Of course, there are many people who contribute to the work of our three churches in Aston and Nechells. To learn more about some of these people, click on the names of the people below or scroll down and read on.
- Ivor and Gail Lewis – Youth ministry
- Stephanie Fletcher – Aston Parish Church Administrator
- Jackie Burton – St James Church Centre Coordinator
- Bill Perry – St Matthew’s Administrator
- Nigel Cripps – Parish Projects Officer
- David Fletcher – St James Advice Centre Office Manager
- Rosemary Cripps – Music Coordinator: Aston Parish Church
- Don Finnemore – Ringing Master at Aston Parish Church
Ivor and Gail Lewis
Ivor was born in Birmingham in 1965 and is married to Gail. They have a son, Tim and two daughters, Vanessa and Kirsty. When they first came to live and work in Aston in 1995 they were Church Mission Society Partners. Their work focuses on youth ministry in Aston and neighbourhood work in Witton. Gail also works as a teaching Assistant in a local school. Ivor gained his qualification as a youth & community worker with the Midland Centre for Youth Ministry and is currently involved in the Nehemiah Community Regeneration programme. He loves all things Leeds United (except their position outside the premiership!). He also likes football!
Email Ivor
Tel: 0121 686 3123
Stephanie Fletcher (Aston Parish Church Administrator)
Having taken over as Aston Parish Church administrator at the start of 2010, Stephanie is working part-time helping with the paperwork side of running the church. In the office most weekdays, she is in charge of doing most of the service slideshows, newsletters and so on, making sure that everyone knows what is going on when, as well as handling bookings for both Aston Parish Church and Aston Parish Church Centre and helping out as treasurer for the parish.
Aside from working for the church Stephanie is a keen musician; having graduated with a music degree in the summer before joining our team she regularly gets involved in Sunday morning worship at Aston Parish Church, St Matthew’s Church and All Saints, Gravelly Hill. As well as this, she has recently started at college again, doing an AS Level in Psychology, and is also being taught to ring the church bells at Aston Parish Church. In the rest of her free time (yes that does exist) she sings with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus.
Email Stephanie
Tel:0121 327 3880
Jackie Burton (St James Church Centre Coordinator)
In addition to being one of the church readers, Jackie helps with the administration at St James Church as the Church Centre Co-ordinator. Room bookings at St James are made with Jackie.
Email Jackie
Tel: 0121 327 3451
Bill Perry (St Matthew's Administration)
Bill was born in Birmingham at a very early age. He attended Golden Hillock School and remembers much of the wartime bombing in the area. He joined the army (Army Apprentice College) in 1952 at the age of 15 and on his release 7 years later he attended Handsworth Technical College where he studied engineering to HND level.
As well as being Church Warden of St Matthew’s, Bill handles most of the day to day administration for St Matthew’s. He is the person to contact for room bookings at St Matthews.
Email Bill
Tel: 0121 359 0801
Nigel Cripps (Projects Officer)
Nigel assists the Vicar with specific tasks especially the Ss Peter and Paul building improvement programme. He is also the company secretary and director of CAN DO 4:13.
Born in Birmingham at the Queen Elizabeth (now University) Hospital, Nigel has far deeper Birmingham roots in so far has his parents and grand parents were all born in what is now Birmingham. The earliest known Aston association is a relative’s wedding certificate dated 29th October 1818.
Nigel comes from a Christian family. His maternal grandfather was Sunday school superintendent and church warden of St James the Less Ashted. The church was bombed and the parish absorbed into St Matthews Duddeston in the 1960’s
Nigel is a Chartered Engineer (IMechE). He served a 5 year indentured apprenticeship before joining the NHS where he held various hospital and regional posts. He has been a member of British Standards Committees and various national steering groups. After 39 years service he has now drawn his pension. His last post in the service was as the Project Manager responsible for the redevelopment of General Practice (GP) premises and Health Centres for the Heart of Birmingham (Teaching) PCT.
Nigel is married with two grown up children. He has a passion for steam engines and railways generally. His other interests are photography and gardening.
Email Nigel
Tel: 0121 382 9263
David Fletcher (St James Advice Centre Office Manager)
As well as being a Reader, David works at St James as Office Manager of the St James Advice Centre , which seeks to help our needy neighbours from the local communities in Aston by offering free advice on immigration, welfare, and other matters.
Email David
Tel: 0121 328 6420
Rosemary Cripps (Music Co-ordinator Aston Parish Church)
Rosemary is married to Nigel. They met more than 30 years ago when Rosemary returned to the Birmingham to work for the City Council Social Services Department after completing her Social Work training.
Rosemary grew up in a Christian (non conformist) family spending her childhood in Kent. She was led to personal faith through the witness of family members and an elderly gentleman at her parents’ church. Over the years her faith has deepened through the encouragement and fellowship of many Christian friends.
Rosemary currently works for the NHS as a manager of community health services for the North and East part of the city. Music making is one of her hobbies.
Rosemary co-ordinates the music at Aston Parish Church. She plays the organ, piano or keyboards and helps to lead the singing. Other interests include playing the cello as a member of the Walsall Symphony Amateur Orchestra, swimming, reading, enjoying concerts and theatre and spending time with her family.
Tel: 0121 382 9263
Don Finnemore (Ringing Master)
Don was born at 29 Little Oaks Road, Aston in 1943, and can trace his family back in Aston to 1691. Having always been interested in Aston history, he compiled a guide book for the Church in 1984. Don is married with five grown up children and nine grandchildren.
Don attended Prince Albert Primary school until passing the eleven plus and going to Central Grammar school, after which he did an indentured apprenticeship at GEC Witton and became and Electrical Draughtsman. He now works at home as an Electrical Engineer and Estimator. In the past, he has held positions at IMI, Birmingham University and Birmingham Airport as Electrical Engineer.
He attended St. James Church in Aston and was in the Sunday School and a member of the choir. At the age of 15, he began ringing bells at Aston Parish Church and has been Ringing Master since 1967. He became a born again Christian in 1978 and was trained as a lay reader in the Church of England in the 80’s. Don has also been a member of the St. Martin’s Guild of Church Bell ringers for the Diocese of Birmingham for 49 years and is a Guild Trustee.
Email Don
Tel: 0121 373 4168
