Minister
Rev Simon Helme has been the minister of the Dursley Pastorate (Dursley Tabernacle, Quarry and Sharpness United Reformed Churches) since January 2001.
He is married to Debbie and they have three children: Jo, Libby and Sam.
He trained for the ministry at Northern College, Manchester and did a Theology Degree at Manchester University. He also has a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality. His first degree was in Geography at Nottingham University after which he became a community worker for a church and then a social work assistant in the city of Nottingham. After ordination in 1995 he had pastoral charge of St John’s and Elmwood Ave URCs in the centre of Warrington.
He is passionate about the church making a difference in God’s world and enacting the good news of God’s love, carrying on the work for healing, peace and justice that Jesus showed. He loves the Bible, even the difficult bits! He loves being part of a church community that can laugh at itself, cry together, learn together, have fun and do something good.
Simon is a Trustee of Stroud District Foodbank, on the management committee of Dursley and Cam Child Contact Centre, and a former convenor of Churches Together in Cam and Dursley.
Outside of being a church minister he is an avid football fan and a follower of Burnley Football Club (his hometown team). He enjoys a game of football or cricket and is a keen walker especially getting up high peaks. Chocolate, cheese and a bottle of wine all put a smile on his face (as well as a Burnley victory – rare though that is).
Contact him at minister@dursleytab.org.uk
Or 01453 542344 or 07443568242
Or Dursley Tabernacle URC, 3 Parsonage St, Dursley, Glos., GL11 4BW
Youth Worker
Emma Irvine:
Emma has been employed by the Tab for the last 5 years to deliver youth work to young people within the church and some community youth work. A group called DYT (Dursley Youth Together) runs on Sunday evenings from 6-8 in the town’s youth centre, Vibe. She is married with two boys, and enjoys playing an active role at the Tab. She is also employed by the Door Youth Project http://www.thedoor.org.uk/ delivering community youth sessions during the week.
Church Development Worker
Carole Allen:
Team of Elders: pictures of elders