St Peter’s Church is a community of hundreds of people who all contribute to our work and worship. Everyone has a part to play – but here are some of the people with named roles.
Vicar :
Currently vacant
Churchwardens: Aileen Tyler and Will Russell
Aileen Tyler attended St Peter’s Primary School and now has a granddaughter who attends. She joined the church choir in 1963 and is still a member. She worked as a school receptionist for 26 years until her recent retirement and she now enjoys pursuing her interest in European modern languages. She is married to Simon, our Treasurer – they have three grown-up children and seven grandchildren.
Will (Billy) Russell is a former St Peter’s School pupil. He was baptised, confirmed, and married wife Naomi at St Peter’s Church. Two of his three children also attended our village school.He has served on the PCC, assists in communicating sacramental wine and is a server. Outside of Church, he is currently enrolled on a course of Christian studies and serving his third term on the Borough Council. In his spare time he can often be found exercising his dog Bae in Warley Country Park, wakeboarding or riding motorbikes.
PCC Treasurer: Simon Tyler
Simon took on the role of Treasurer in 2017 and has been involved with the church for many years. As his parents both sang in the choir he can claim to have been a member since March 1951. Simon worked in the City for 43 years, most of that time being involved with Trade Finance. He is married to Aileen – also in the choir – and they have three grown up children and seven grandchildren.
PCC Secretary: Gill Bitschine
Gill is married to Michael and has lived in and around Brentwood for over 35 years. She worked for over 45 years in secretarial and administrative roles, but is now retired. Her most memorable working day was when she escorted a tiger cub about the head office, people’s reactions were amazing. Gill is interested in reading and gardening and boasts that she has succeeded in going through life without ever changing a nappy!
Director of Music: Alan Ball
Alan has been Director of Music at St Peter’s Church since 1998. He also works as a piano teacher, and teaches Maths at King Edward VI Grammar school in Chelmsford.
He is married to Katherine and has two grown-up children, Peter and David.
Alan enjoys playing and listening to music, walking, reading and playing games with the family.
Authorised Local Preacher: Ruth Carter
Ruth has been attending St Peter’s Church since 2010. She is a professional singer and garden designer, and recently spent a year rescuing and redesigning a garden for the National Trust. Having completed the diocesan course in Christian studies she trained as a lay preacher and was licensed to the parish of South Weald in 2019. She is married with two grown up sons. She enjoys reading, walking and cycling, and her current project is to learn the cello.