Staff and Leadership

Staff Team

GRAHAM ALBANS
Explore & Community

I’m Graham, I’m married to Jo and we have three young children. Having worked as a producer at the BBC for a decade, I recently decided to change career and become a pastor… I’m responsible for the church’s outreach activities like the Explore and Identity courses and our work in the community.

CHRIS ATKINSON
Operations & Teams

Hi, I’m Chris. My wife Helen and I have been attending Grace for around 20 years. We have three grown up lads, all married, living in Kempston, and members of Grace Community Church, which is a real blessing. It’s my privilege to look after Operations and lots of the various Teams that we run at Grace.

JULIA BAILEY-PAUL
Womens’ Worker & Care Team Lead

Julia supports women in our church and community through various groups including the Care Team and the Net.

DAVE BREAR
Office / Admin / Policies

When not kayaking or sailing, Dave supports in the church office and keeps all of our risk-assessments, data and safe-guarding policies up to date.

HAZEL DAVIES
Families, Children & Youth
Safeguarding co-lead

Hi, I'm the Families, Children & Youth Co-ordinator for the church, I support and resource the FCY teams and families in various ways. I am married to Adrian, and we have 3 grown up children.

NAOMI FROSSELL
Womens’ Worker

Naomi supports women in our church and community through various groups including the Net.

NEIL GILLIES
Financial Controller

Hi, my name is Neil. I have the privilege of being the financial controller for Grace. I am married with 2 grown up kids and five grandchildren. My wife, Nicky, and I moved from west Wales in 2019 where I had worked in the NHS for over 29 years and was the treasurer and a trustee at our local Church.

KAREN JONES
CAP Manager

Hi, I am the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre Manager for Bedford/Kempston, as part of the church’s community work. I live in Kempston with my husband and two sons.

JEMMA LOCKEY
Finance

Jemma supports our finance team.

ALLAN PEEL
Assistant Pastor

Hello, I’m Allan, I’m married to Beth and we have a son who keeps us busy. I’ve been working for Grace as an Assistant Pastor since Sept ’24. I love to watch, play and talk about sports, particularly football and Liverpool FC.

JON PUTT
Discipleship & Pastoral Care

I'm Jon, I'm married to Lois and we have two lively sons. I'm responsible for co-ordinating our church's homegroups and pastoral care. Outside of my responsibilities to the church family, I try to keep fit by occasionally running, paddling on the local river, and getting regularly humiliated at the local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy. Any attempts to keep fit are undermined by my passion for BBQ.

AILIE REDMAN
Office

Hi, I’m Ailie and I work part time for Grace overseeing the Administration Team. Working in the church office, I enjoy connecting with many different teams, volunteers and members of the community. I am married to Neil and have 4 grown-up children.

SIMON ROWELL
Worship & Integration

Hi, my name’s Simon and I’m one of the pastors at Grace leading our worship teams and helping new people connect to the Church family. My wife Suzanne, our two adult sons and I have seen God at work in growing his church over nearly 2 decades. We love the church’s commitment to people from all backgrounds, from those just beginning to explore Christianity to those who’ve been a Christian for many years.

MARTIN SALTER
Lead Pastor

Hi, my name’s Martin, I’m married to Sarah and we have three rapidly growing kids. We’ve been part of Grace since 2010, and I’m the lead pastor at the church. We love how the church constantly tries to live out grace as a response to grace, bringing God’s good news to all sorts of people in our community.

HEATHER SOLESBURY
Well Woman Workshop

Hi, my name is Heather. I have had the privilege of working for Grace since 2003, mainly in the community based at Project 229. I run the Well Woman Workshop and other courses aimed at giving women confidence in all areas of their life.

Leadership team

As we read in the New Testament we see that churches are led by a team of elders, also known as pastors (shepherds) or overseers. They are words used to describe the same person.

The people are qualified men according to scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-10). Although elders or pastors are the highest human authority in the local church, they are ultimately following Jesus, the chief-shepherd and ultimate Head of the church. They will give an account to Him for their stewardship.