Trustees
CPAS is both a charity and a company limited by guarantee. The charity is governed by trustees who are responsible for policy and oversight of its work and ministry. The CPAS trustees can be contacted via info@cpas.org.uk.
THE RT REV RUTH BUSHYAGER (CHAIR OF TRUSTEES)
Ruth became Bishop of Horsham in the summer of 2020, and loves serving across the Diocese of Chichester, focusing on the churches and schools of West Sussex. She is lead bishop in the Diocese for safeguarding, strategic development, international relationships, and ecumenical work. She is governor of Chichester University and a Member of Hurst and Bohunt Education Trusts. Serving the national church vision and strategy as a Champion Bishop for ‘Younger and More Diverse’, Ruth is also a Vice-President of the College of Evangelists and Co-Coordinator of the Evangelical Bishops group in the College of Bishops.
Prior to her episcopal ministry, she was the vicar of St Paul's Dorking in Surrey, where she was Area Dean. Previous clergy roles have included as a Chaplain to a boarding school in Oxford, a Diocesan Area Missioner in London, and serving parishes in Abingdon and Nottingham. Life before ordination included working as an International Policy Advisor in the Cabinet Office at Westminster, working with the United Nations on climate change.
For relaxation, Ruth enjoys parkrun, walking her dog, and camping with her family in France and at New Wine every summer.
THE REV DR PAUL MATHOLE (VICE-CHAIR)
Paul is Rector of Holy Trinity Platt Church in south Manchester, a CPAS patronage parish.
Paul is of mixed-race heritage and he is married to Caroline who is from Northern Ireland. They have three children. They have been in Manchester for over a decade and Paul was appointed Rector at Platt in February 2020, shortly before the pandemic. Prior to ordination he trained at Oak Hill theological college.
Life before that involved the field of English literature, including doctoral research and teaching in seventeenth-century literature, and working for an online academic publisher. Stories of all kinds, whether books, plays or films, remain a great passion. Every now and again he daydreams about what it would be like to be a film director.
richard montgomery
Richard worked for more than thirty years in senior positions in the oil industry living in various parts of the world.
He has been chair of a grant making charity giving £2 million annually to support the poor and vulnerable, was until recently the Managing Director of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity and is currently on the board of the London City Mission.
Richard's wife works for a church in Twickenham where they live and worship, and they have three sons who have enjoyed Ventures but have since grown up and have left home. Richard is a keen cyclist and some would say also spends too much time watching it on television.
The REV DR Eddie Scrase-Field
Eddie became a Christian from a very young age having the great privilege of being brought up in a Christian home. He is married to Hannah and they have four children, a cat and two chickens! Although he was born in Royston, Herts he has lived in many different places, including Suffolk, Aberdeenshire, Ohio in the US, Carlisle, Manchester and York.
He grew up on a farm and studied Agriculture as his first degree. He trained as a research scientist in plant biochemistry and molecular biology and then worked for a government agency in the regulation of pesticides. During this period, he was selected for ordination and trained at Ridley Hall Cambridge.
He completed his curacy in the picturesque city of Carlisle, and then moved as Associate Minister at St Mary’s, Cheadle, near Manchester and is now the Vicar of St John’s Blackheath in south east London. He has served for nine years on the trustee board of Scripture Union England and Wales and led an SU beach mission for 10 years. To relax he enjoys spending time with his family, especially visiting coastal areas of the UK. He is a keen runner and has completed a number of marathons.
CATRIN LEE
Catrin attended Church in Wales churches through her childhood and started to "own" her Christian faith in her first year of university when she made a personal decision to find a church - it was there she really engaged with who Jesus is and her need for Him. For many years, leading on CPAS Ventures was a highlight of her summer. Her husband is a church minister and they have three daughters who are starting to attend Ventures themselves. Catrin runs her own business working with start-ups, individuals and charities and is also involved with pastoral care for women at her church. She's recently enjoyed studying the Biblical Counselling UK certificate course. She's happiest being active outside with family, close friends and a good coffee!
aMANDA ROBBIE
Now: Vicar’s wife in West Bromwich in a growing intercultural church, mum of three young adults, occasional blogger, General Synod member for Lichfield, Council member: CEEC and Church Society, Deanery Synod secretary.
Converted through: local CPAS patronage church (their primary school, Pathfinder group, confirmation classes, CYFA camp with youth group).
Worked as: chartered mechanical engineer, designing pumping stations, and water and wastewater treatment plants. Leader on Falcon ventures in her 20s. Author of The Ministry of a Messy House.
Lived in: London, Cambridge, then Kuala Lumpur and Singapore until her husband was selected for CofE training. In Wolverhampton curacy they started a Pathfinder group and took them on a CPAS Venture, served 10 years. Their links continue with their youngest son who is now an assistant leader.
THE REV THEA EDWARDS
Thea is a newly appointed Vicar in Farnborough, who enjoys getting outside playing sport, growing vegetables and eating cake. She is passionate about making connections between life and faith, something that the CPAS Arrow Leadership course really encouraged growth and thinking in, especially resourcing and training Millennials and younger generations to live out their faith in Jesus. New Wine is her spiritual home, which brings both refreshment and opportunity to grow in faith and gifting.
Thea loves grappling with scripture, especially exploring the Emmaus Road encounter, building community with food and encouraging young women and men to be leaders in the Church today.
the venerable vernon ross
Since 2017, Vernon has been Archdeacon of Westmorland and Furness, which is the southern third of Carlisle Diocese. Prior to that he was a Mission and Ministry Advisor in Chelmsford Diocese, and has served three incumbencies.
In Carlisle Diocese, he has a lead role for Clergy Welfare, Chaplaincy, Political Engagement and is vice chair of the DBE. As part of the Bishop’s Leadership Team, he has a responsibility for the strategic direction of the Diocese.
Vernon is a member of the New Wine Network and regular attends the leadership conference.
To relax, Vernon enjoys walking and photography. He is married to Francesca, and they have two adult sons.
the rev ed hobbs
Ed is Rector of St Andrew’s Cullompton in Devon, a CPAS patronage parish, where he has been since 2009.
He is married to Lucy and they have 3 children, 2 of whom are now at university, and they are also foster carers for under-fives.
Ed trained at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, and has served in 3 other Dioceses before landing in Devon. He has experienced all three main areas of the work of CPAS over the years, from leading a venture, to participating in Arrow and running Growing Leaders, to now leading a CPAS patronage church, and serving as a representative of the patrons helping to appoint vicars to other churches in the Diocese.
He's a member of New Wine and is passionate about the local church. He enjoys gardening, sport, travel, reading and camping (not just at New Wine!).
Sarah Lui
Sarah is a local government officer who has held roles across social care for over 15 years and is passionate about improving health, wellbeing and equality for residents. Currently she works part time leading the commissioning of health and care services for adults with learning disabilities and autism in Camden, prior to which she managed Camden’s Safeguarding Adults Board and coordinated learning and development programmes for children’s social care practitioners in Southend on Sea.
Outside paid employment, Sarah is a busy mum of two young children. Alongside her husband Anthony she is actively involved at St John’s Church, Walthamstow where she runs the under 5s Sunday ministry and volunteers at the parent and toddler stay and play group. Previously Sarah has served on the Safeguarding Committee at St Helen’s Bishopsgate and by leading bible studies, welcoming teams and on a youth summer camp.
When she finds some free time, Sarah enjoys cooking, visiting historical properties, interior design and (very slowly) learning Cantonese.
Council of reference
The Council of Reference offers expertise and experience, informing and encouraging the ministry of CPAS and advocating our mission and vision. Members can be contacted via info@cpas.org.uk.
The Rt Rev Dr Matthew Porter (Chair)
Captain Nicholas Lebey
Dr Nick Burt
Jenny Bray
Sarah Slater
The Rev (Sqn Ldr) Geoffrey Firth
The Rev Alex Oehring
The Rev Charles Thomson
The Rev Chris Green
The Rev David Hammond
The Rev Jane Morris
The Rev John Hookway
The Rev Jonathan Tuckwell
The Rev Jon Hidden
The Rev Lesley Currie
The Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain
The Rev Pete Winstone
The Rev Richard Stordy
The Rev Roger Driver
The Rev Sarah Williams
The Rev Simon Talbot
The Rev Stuart Browning
The Rev William Perry
The Venerable Andy Grimwood
The Venerable Dr Megan Smith
The Venerable Fiona Gibson
The Venerable Mones Farah
The Venerable Paul Dundas