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Canon Neil Kelley - Rector
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Fr. Cornelius Asghar – Curate
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Fr. Neil has been Rector of St Laurence’s since October 2017 (and Priest in Charge of St. Peter’s, Chorley in 2021) having moved from the Parish of Bushey (Herts).
Before Bushey, Fr Neil served the Liverpool Diocese for fifteen years as a Parish Priest, Diocesan Advisor on Liturgy & Worship and member of the Diocesan Church Growth Team.
In addition to St. Laurence's Fr. Neil is Priest-in-Charge of Chorley St. Peter and Assistant Archdeacon (with responsibility for Clergy Wellbeing). |
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Cornelius grew up in the northern part of Pakistan, and has had 20 years of experience in the Education and Development Sector. The Urban Ministry Course (M:POWER) reintroduced him to God as a loving father through our Saviour Jesus Christ. While serving the Church in Blackpool as an ALM, Cornelius sensed that Jesus was calling him to serve His people in addition to being one of His disciples. As a result, his sense of calling to the ordained ministry changed into a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Fr. Cornelius is currently a full-time Curate (assistant clergy) and his hobbies are cooking (trying new recipes), going around nature walks, reading and chatting with people. |
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Phil Hall – Authorised Lay Minister
Tel: 01257 415602
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Tony Checker – Authorised Lay Minister
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Phil Hall has been a member of St. Laurence Church for over 30 years having previously been heavily involved in his church in Bolton. Phil served a total of seven years as churchwarden and is currently part of the pastoral visiting team, with a particular interest in later life ministry.
Phil has three children and eight grandchildren, ranging from 22 years old down to the youngest at nine months old. Phil is passionate about football, cricket and is a season ticket holder with Chorley Football Club and a member of Chorley Cricket Club. He also enjoys brewing his own wine and cider. |
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Tony was a commercial electrician and is now an area sales engineer, based in Liverpool. Tony first came to St. Laurence’s in 2011 and in his time here has been a bellringer, Alpha Course leader, PCC member, Altar server, and Eucharistic Minister. Tony became an ALM in 2021.
Tony has two adult children and in his spare time enjoys woodworking, chess, guitars (music with loud guitars), curry & beer.
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Neal Bennet-Williams – Authorised Lay Minister
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Michelle Wareham – Authorised Lay Minister
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Neal Joined St. Laurence’s in 2020 after attending an Alpha course. He is a Community Ministry Lay Minister. Neal has a passion to work within the Local Community promoting the Bible and our Church.
Neal was in the RAF for a number of years and now works as a Quality Engineer in the Aerospace industry.
Neal likes to spend time with his wife, Sue and Dan the Border Collie. He has a number of hobbies the latest of which is restoring a 38 year old Sinclair C5 Electric car. You may see him around town on it if he’s successful! |
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Hi, I’m Michelle and I’ve been attending St Laurence’s for nearly 20 years now. During that time I have served on the PCC three times, led Sunday school, and been a deputy warden. These days you are more likely to find me playing my flute in the worship band and welcoming everyone to church with my dog, Molly, as well as running our youth group with Kim from St Peter's. When I'm not at church I work full time at Lancashire teaching hospitals as a specialty business manager. In my spare time I enjoy walking Molly and crocheting. I've been married to Peter for 24 years now and we have one daughter, Kassidy, who has just started at University |
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Justin Stretch – Digital Content Manager
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Mandy Stanton – Rector’s PA
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Justin was appointed as Digital Content Manager in the Summer of 2020. He is passionate about worship and creating online content that brings glory to God.
As well as being Digital Content Manager, Justin also sings and plays keyboard for the Worship Band. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and recording worship songs, stroking his cat, blubell, flying his drone and cooking.
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Mandy was born in Birmingham, and lived in the Midlands until 2013, when she moved to Lancashire to take on the role of Lay Ministry Officer for Blackburn Diocese, a job which she did until 2020. Mandy currently works part time as PA to the Area Dean of Leyland in addition to her work for St. Laurence’s.
Mandy lives in Fulwood with her cat, Eevee, and is an Licensed Lay Minister at Christ Church Fulwood. You can sometimes see Mandy on stage with the St Ambrose Players, Leyland! |
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Natalie Print – Parish Administrator
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Nicola Pilkington – Safeguarding Officer
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Natalie’s working background is mostly in administration, including for a church, in doctors’ surgeries and for an adult education college. Natalie has volunteered in churches for a number of years and is pleased to take up the more formal role of Parish Administrator at St Laurence’s to support the church’s ministry to the people of Chorley.
Natalie is married to Mike and she spends most of her time looking after their three year old daughter. Natalie is involved in Sunday Club and the toddler group at St George’s Church, where Mike is vicar, and enjoys finding time to read, watch boxsets, and meet up with friends.
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Nicola has worked in education for over thirteen years and is due to start her first headship in Penwortham in January. Throughout her teaching career, Nicola has worked at four church schools and been the safeguarding lead for the past eight years. It has always been a passion of Nicola’s to share examples from the Bible with her pupils and discuss how Jesus, as our ultimate role model, can help help pupils make good choices.
Nicola lives with her husband Andy and her beautiful, two year old daughter Beatrice, who keeps them both very busy with her ‘good ideas’. |
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Alan Winstanley – Director of Music
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Irene Preston – Operations Manager
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Alan began learning the organ at Wigan Parish Church with David Cutter and while in the 6th form at the Deanery High School he was a member of the British Youth Choir. He furthered his studies at London College of Music with Gordon Phillips. He was appointed organist at St Peter’s Notting Hill Gate and after graduating undertook a PGCE at King Alfred’s College, Winchester. In 1982 he took up his first teaching post at UpHolland High School. In August of that year Alan was appointed Organist at St. Laurence’s. In 1986 he became Head of Music at Ormskirk Grammar School and in 1996 was promoted to be in charge of the Arts Faculty. The school merged in 2001 with Cross Hall High School to form Ormskirk School. After 28 years at the school Alan took early retirement in July 2014. Alan was Conductor of the St Nicholas Singers and for the last 13 years has been Conductor of the Chorley Choral Society. He is also a senior examiner for AQA Examination Board for A level music. |
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Irene has just completed her PhD in English language at UCLan, where she had been a student since 2012. After a varied career in catering, clerical and care work, Irene suffered a breakdown but has seen how The Lord used this to change her path to academia.
She is a committed Christian, having been a member of Chorley Street pastors for around 6 years and also heavily involved in activities at Clayton brook Community Church near to where she lived.
Irene has 2 grown-up daughters and 2 teenage grandsons who she likes to spend as much time with as possible. She also loves Lego, travelling and learning languages.
Irene recently married Vic and they are enjoying making a new home for themselves in Chorley town centre.
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Assisting Clergy
All the wardens can be contacted through the Parish Office
Tel: 01257 231360
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Jill Smith – Project Administrator
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We are very grateful to a number of retired clergy who worship at St. Laurence’s and who provide service cover from time to time. Pictured with the Rector are (l to r) Rev. Mike Hatton, Fr. Robert Moore, Rev. David Ward, Fr. Edmund Strazak and Canon Ken Barrett.
Wardens Team
Alex Barrack (Churchwarden)
Bernard Oakley and Tony Checker (Deputy Churchwardens)
Rob Kelly and David Thistlethwaite (Emeritus Wardens)
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Jill began her career working as an IT Consultant after studying for a degree in Information Systems at Leeds University. In more recent years and to fit in with family life she has worked in part time administrative roles and spent a number of years working at Blackburn Diocese as a HR Administrator. Jill also has many years service working as a volunteer in local church where she has helped as a youth leader, house group leader, occasional preacher and PCC me mber to name but a few!
Originally growing up in Higher Walton Jill now lives in Whittle- le-Woods with her husband Lee and their three teenage children Lauren, Evie and Luke. In her spare time she loves gardening, baking, spending time with family and friends and going for long walks with her little dog Rosie! |