Our team
Governance

Our Churches

A tall stone church with a clock on its tower, surrounded by trees with green leaves.
St James Benwell
View of a church with a tall steeple, stone walls, and arched windows, surrounded by green trees and a bright blue sky.
St Margaret's Scotswood
Image of the front door of St John's church. A small, white-painted, single storey church with a double door and a wooden a cross above
St John's Benwell Village
Close-up of a brick building with arched windows and a tower in the background under a cloudy sky.
Venerable Bede West Road

We are an exciting, large, and diverse parish in the urban West-end of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Our four churches make up a genuinely inclusive and authentic community who work tirelessly to share the love of Jesus Christ in Benwell and Scotswood and collaborate with many partner organisations to care for the community, whatever their background or belief.

The parish began in the 1830s and in 1985 St James, St John, and the Venerable Bede came together to form the Benwell Team. Saint Margaret’s Scotswood then joined in 2015 to create Benwell and Scotswood Team Parish.

Our buildings are in use every day with hundreds of people coming through our doors. Over the years we have initiated several local projects, and now work closely with them as partner organisations. In particular, we are the home of Newcastle Foodbank; started by the congregation of the Venerable Bede it is now the UK’s largest foodbank and operates in two of our churches several days a week. We also established Cornerstone Benwell, the Pendower Good Neighbour Project, North Benwell Youth Project. We now run the Something Wonderful Project – the umbrella name for the extensive community work that happens throughout the week at St James.

Click on the image of each church for information about their history and community.

Our team

  • Red neon sign in the shape of a question mark

    The Revd …

    Team Rector

    We are seeking to appoint a new Rector! If you are a priest or know someone who might be interested in applying lead an incredible parish with a wonderful team, then get in touch!

  • A man dressed as a priest with a short beard.

    The Revd Christopher Minchin

    Team Vicar for Mission
    (Acting Team Rector)

    (It’s fine to just call him Chris– or Fr Chris!)

    revd@chrisminchin.com

  • A smiling woman with light blonde hair, glasses, and gold earrings sitting at a table in a restaurant.

    Kathy Germain

    Licensed Lay Reader

    and Assistant Safeguarding Officer

    kathleen342434@hotmail.com

    07946285529

  • Close-up of a woman with short gray hair, blue eyes, and light skin.

    Kath McIntyre

    Parish Secretary

    and Venerable Bede Churchwarden

    church@benwellscotswood.com

    07968 162067

  • A smiling woman with short blonde hair, glasses, and a white blouse sitting indoors.

    Brenda McCutcheon

    St Margaret’s Churchwarden

    Parish Safeguarding Officer

    brendamccutcheon@yahoo.co.uk

    07940278772

  • A close-up photo of a smiling man with glasses, short dark hair, and light skin, indoors with a window and some household objects in the background.

    Mike Keller

    Churchwarden

    and Assistant Safeguarding Officer

    0191 2722195

  • A man with white hair and beard wearing glasses and a grey argyle sweater, smiling, against a plain beige background.

    Chris Foskett

    St James Caretaker

    07535 480134

  • A woman smiling and laughing, positioned near a table with gold-colored balloons or decorations.

    Shirley Irving

    Anna Chaplain

    and Deanery Synod Rep

    Café co-ordinator

  • An elderly woman dressed as an angel, wearing a white robe, is standing and reading from a book in a church decorated for Christmas. There is a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and lights to her left, and a nativity scene with figurines to her right. The church interior features arched windows and warm lighting.

    Grace Thomson

    Authorised Lay Minister

    St Margaret’s Churchwarden

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with brown hair and earrings, outdoors on a windy day.

    Colina Fenton

    St John’s Churchwarden

  • A man in a gray suit holding a ceremonial staff, standing outdoors with trees and decorations in the background.

    Julius Ijefiya

    St James Churchwarden

  • Close-up of a flowing piece of orange and dark brown ribbon or fabric with smooth curves against a beige background.

    Sarah Molyneux-Hetherington

    Pastoral Assistant

  • Close-up of a continuous, wavy, ribbon-like shape in shades of orange and brown against a beige background.

    James Garratt

    Parish Treasurer

  • Abstract digital art featuring flowing, curved shapes in shades of orange, brown, and black with a beige background.

    Leahan Garratt

    Benwell Mothers’ Union Co-ordinator

Governance