Who are we ?

The Congregation

A church is made up of people – a lot of different people, with different backgrounds and different life stories.  We join together with a common goal – to worship and serve God.  You are very welcome to join us.

Our Vicar

My name is Jackie Fountain.  I am married to Paul, and we have four grown up children.

I am originally from Lancashire (you will be able to tell from the accent!).  Paul and I met at Warwick University and lived in Coventry for a few years.  We then moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire as it was then) and worked for Tear Fund, partnering with the local church to establish a Village Water Supply Project.  Eight years, three children and many adventures later, we returned to the UK and moved to Reading where Paul is working for Thames Water.

In Reading we had our fourth child. I  worked as a primary school teacher.  I then got a job as a Community Worker at New Hope Community Church (a church outreach, part of Greyfriars church) where I worked for 13 years.  I loved working alongside the congregation reaching out to the local community; loving, serving and sharing good news with people in many different ways.

I was doing some preaching and teaching at New Hope and I wanted to study the Bible on a deeper level, so I started studying theology part time at St Mellitus College in London.  I really enjoyed the learning and being challenged.  I began to feel that God was calling me to ordained ministry.  After a process of exploring that call, I was accepted and completed my training at St Mellitus while still working at New Hope.

I previously worked in Newbury, at St Nicolas church for the three years as a Curate.  This has been a really positive and helpful time, and it has been encouraging to see God working in people’s lives and to see Him using many different kinds of people, each with their gifts and talents seeking to follow Jesus.

I am happy to return to Tilehurst (where we used to live), joining you in the kingdom work which is happening there and together seeking to move forward in God’s direction.  We are encouraged by all we see that God has been doing in you and through you; and we look forward with eagerness and anticipation to all that God is going to continue to be doing.

Jackie

Our Curate

Hi there! My name is Carol Atkins. I have been a Pioneer curate for 2 and a half years at Reading Gateway Church in South Reading and am looking forward to finishing up my curacy with you all. I will be with you for at least 6 months.

I am married to Chris and have two adult children, Ben who is 23 and Beckie who is 20. The children both live in London, but hopefully you’ll get to meet them at some point whilst I’m with you.

I was born and brought up in London, went to Uni there and moved to Reading with Chris in 1999. We have lived in Cemetery Junction, West Reading, Tilehurst and now South Reading and I am delighted to be returning to work in Tilehurst where we lived for 14 years, the longest I have lived anywhere in my life!

Prior to being ordained I trained as a paediatric nurse, which I did for 14 years, then worked as children’s worker for Greyfriars for 8 years, then a Family Support Worker at St Michaels Primary for 3 years before working on two projects, Make Lunch Reading and the Family Support Hub.

While doing these projects, I studied at Church Mission Society Headquarters for a Certificate in Pioneer Leadership. I trained at CMS and Cuddesdon jointly before ordination.

Our Licensed Lay Ministers

Tony Bartlett	Mike Heather

Our Church Wardens

Caroline Heron	Lynn Stevens

Other Roles

Stuart Poore – Parish Administrator	Sonia Ludford – Centre Manager