Staff Team

We are blessed with a staff team with men and women from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The team is led by the Senior Minister (Vicar) Chris Hobbs, and it includes ordained and licensed Church of England ministers, as well as those who are non-ordained.

Chris Hobbs

Senior Minister (Fellowship Groups)

Chris has been Senior Minister since 2000, having previously served in churches in Hull and London. A long time ago he worked as a design engineer. He and his wife Helen have four grown-up children, and he enjoys watching most sports and playing some, walking, reading, films and DIY (when it works!).

Ben Wells

Associate Minister (Students)

Born in the West Country, Ben has moved around ever since. After studying in Exeter, he initially moved to Birmingham to work amongst the Christian Unions with UCCF, before working for Birmingham City University in their research department. Having trained for ordination at Oak Hill College, London, Ben returned to serve his curacy here before staying on as Associate Minister. He’s married to Rachel with three young daughters. When he gets a chance you can often find him at our local Parkrun, enjoying a film and all things Exeter Chiefs.

Helen Buckley

Children and Families Minister (Ages 0-10)

Originally from Manchester, Helen worked as a Primary school teacher before moving down south to Birmingham. She joined the staff team in 2005 and loves it here! In her spare time Helen likes to watch TV and eat peanut butter (the posh kind).

Tom Bryant

Youth and Families Minister (Ages 10-18)

Tom has a lifetime of experience of living in Birmingham, having been born and raised in the north of the city, before moving (slightly) southwards to study Physics at the University of Birmingham. He likes watching films, drinking lemonade, and fixing things that aren’t really broken. Tom trained at Oak Hill College and oversees our work with 10 to 18 year olds. Previously, he worked as a secondary school physics teacher at a local comprehensive school. He’s husband to Naomi and dad to Samuel and Betsy.

Laurie Fearon

Church Manager

Laurie is married to Sue. He’s been Church Manager at St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s since 2019, having previously served in a similar capacity at City Church Birmingham following a period working in finance and administration for the Saltmine Trust. Prior to this he went from working offshore as a geologist to working for HMIT as a tax inspector. He enjoys sports (mainly watching nowadays), gardening, a good general knowledge quiz, and heritage railway visits.