Ben Quant is a Connexion Trustee and Minister of Wormley Free Church. He was born and bred in a small fenland village outside Ely. It was through the invitation of The Countess Chapel, Ely in 1990 to join in an Easter musical, that he became a Christian.

Shortly after he left for university, studying Biochemistry at Imperial College, with dreams of going on to become either a perpetual student or a rock guitarist. God had other plans!

During the 90's, he slept on many of our church floors with Youth Conference, joining their committee and ultimately running it. In August 1992 he cycled 1,100 miles around our churches, visiting all but Middleton, in order to raise funds for a new school in Foofoo Water, Sierra Leone. (One day he will remedy the omission of Middleton). This led to a deep affection for the Connexion family and his becoming part of the Sierra Leone Mission and its chair for nine years.

After university, Ben decided to take a year out and work for The Connexion, and he was offered a post at Westcott. This stretched and he remained at Westcott until 1999 when he moved to Wormley. He retains his interest in science and its relationship with faith. He is currently studying for a DMin (Doctor of Ministry) at Spurgeon's College, researching preaching as testimony. Outside of church and studies, he is a keen cyclist, guitarist, reader and tabletop-gamer. He is still on his year out!

As you may have noticed, Ben is sharing the bench with Gromit!

New trustees

The Connexion is currently seeking four new Trustees to join their existing team. Click here for more details

Our stories

We are among the old stagers in the Connexion, and it is great to see younger folk joining the “family”, and these newer ways of keeping in touch. We love the revamped website!

As for our stories, here’s the quick version. Work brought us closer geographically and then our involvement in Mortimer West Chapel led to a more permanent entanglement. But there are a lot of years to fill in before that.

Brian's earlier years

Brian was born in Yorkshire, brought up in Lancashire, and went to school in Manchester. He became a Christian at a Crusader camp in Wales at 14; and was actively involved in the Christian Union when at Liverpool and then London University. He studied biochemistry. There was also a stint in the Royal Army Education Corps, towards the end of national service.

Brian met his first wife, Marjorie, in Liverpool and, after moving to Berkshire, two children, Alison and David, followed. By this time Brian was a research scientist at Jealott’s Hill, Bracknell, with the family becoming involved in the Countess of Huntington chapel where they lived, nearby Wargrave. 

Trustee

In 1968 Brian became a Trustee of The Connexion, eventually becoming Chairman and General Secretary, before handing on to Noel Valelly and Dave Sweetman in 2008.

Brenda

Brenda was born in Plymouth and spent most of her early years in the south west, before studying history at Reading University. She never quite escaped, obtaining a job on graduation at the Museum of English Rural Life. This was idyllic, combining bombing around the country in an old Bedford van collecting old agricultural equipment and archives, with teaching responsibilities in the University. Brenda was baptised when a student but had a period of doubt afterwards. She had recovered her faith by the 1980s and started to attend Goring Free Church.

Coming together

The two met after Marjorie died in 1990, and at a time Brenda had recently lost both her parents. Mike Ward at GFC suggested that she join a team to re-establish the chapel at Mortimer West. Brian, as connexional trustee, was also on the team. Both were very slow on the uptake, but eventually decided that the other was a good thing and married in 1995. That is 25 years ago! Wow!

The Chapel, Mortimer West End

With a brilliant restoration team, led by Max and Ros Rowe, the chapel was rededicated in 1993 and continues to be a place that glorifies God and has a wonderful chapel family. Both of us have undertaken various roles, and are still part of the preaching team, and try to encourage and support others where we can. Of course, we are now all doing things by Zoom, but look forward to when it is possible to come back together on site.

Together in Mission

A joy for us has been our involvement in Together in Mission, an initiative by local Christians to show Christ’s love within our local communities, by setting up a befriending service, a community café, and a School Pastors service. All have been running now for several years and are greatly appreciated. Brian served as a Trustee for this and Brenda as fundraiser, though have handed the baton on to a very capable team.

Our family

To complete our personal story, we have seven grandchildren, all different in personality and interests. Two are married and the youngest about to start university. Employment includes working on a new Shaun the Sheep video game, fitness training, and IT support. As the faith dimension, one is working for a big Plymouth church, another about to start Bible College, and another volunteering for Caring for Life in Leeds. What a great lot!

Safety guidance and regulations for places of worship during the Coronavirus pandemic are periodically updated on Gov.uk: Covid-19 Guidance. The most recent update is 14 September, following the 'rule of six' announcement.

Some of our churches have been able to reopen their doors to a portion of their congregations, carefully following Covid-19 safety guidelines. But for those who are not able to attend Sunday services by visiting our church buildings, virtual services continue to be available online.

A number of our Connexion churches are continuing to organise virtual gatherings that are available for our community to join via church websites, Facebook, You Tube pages and Zoom meetings.

The initiative has been well received and very popular, enabling members of our Connexion Community to come together for Sunday services, messages, worship and prayer meetings, during the period where our church buildings have been closed or attendance is restricted.

Virtual Sunday Church Services and Meetings

• Wormley Free Church is posting Sunday services each week, which can be accessed though their website. The services are followed by a Zoom get-together for a virtual cup of coffee and a chat. Link: www.wormleyfreechurch.org.uk. 
• Rosedale Community Church has a selection of Sunday messages available on their You Tube page. Link: Rosedale Community Church
• Bolney Village Chapel is streaming Sunday services on their Facebook page. The services begin at 10.30am for approximately 45 mins and include worship, Bible readings and teaching. Link: www.facebook.com/bolneyvillagechapel
• South Street Free Church has also been posting Sunday services on their You Tube page, including Bible readings, hymns, songs and sermons. Link: South Street Free Church
• Goring Free Church is streaming Sunday video recordings on their You Tube page. Each week there is a playlist of worship songs to accompany the series of sermons. Link: Goring Free Church
• Sheppey Evangelical Church is posting recorded messages, including prayer and scripture readings each Sunday on their You Tube page. On the first Sunday of each month Communion is celebrated. Link: Sheppey Evangelical Church
• The Countess Free Church, Ely meet together each Sunday via Zoom. During these gatherings members share how God is working in their lives and the community; there is a thought for both young and old, and a message is given. For details, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Messages are also put out by podcast. To access these, go to their website: www.countessely.co.uk

It's a great way to keep our strong community together during these strange and difficult times, and our churches welcome you to join in!

My earliest memories of Zion Community Church are from my childhood: three times on a Sunday, church in the morning, Sunday school in the afternoon and church in the evening. My mum was a Salvationist so add in three open airs…. my Sundays were not days of rest! 

Growing up

I grew up with my dad at Zion, while my sister went with my mum to the Salvation Army.  Sunday always finished with hymns around the piano; mum played while my sister strummed the guitar, I screeched on the recorder and my dad played the comb with a piece of paper wrapped around it. Treasured memories.

When I was thirteen, I joined the Youth for Christ choir and started attending the rallies each month. On March 4th1966 Joe Fudge, the evangelist, took as his text ‘You must be born again.’  I have never regretted the decision I took that night. My teenage years were a total blessing!  There were at least twenty of us who would meet together for prayer and bible study, we would hold open airs on the sea front and ran beach missions. We organised these ourselves and didn’t expect the adults to help us. We were all from different churches and remained in those churches not leaving to go to the same church. 

I left St Ives in 1971 and trained to teach at the College of St Matthias, Bristol. Away from my Christian friends this was a period of life when I learnt to trust God wholly and not to rely on my friends.

Friendship and Marriage

Ralph and I met in St Ives after he stopped me to ask about a sticker that was on my coat, ‘Jesus is Alive!’ Our friendship grew but he wasn’t a Christian and many people tried to warn me. I prayed and prayed and a month before we married Ralph gave his life to Jesus. To those in ‘unequal’ relationships trust me it was not easy! 

We were married at Zion and both of our girls Hannah and Ruth were dedicated there. We were blessed with sound bible based teaching and valued the importance of being part of a Christ Centred Church. In 1982 Ralph established the Christian Bookshop in the Sunday School and donated all proceeds to Christian charities.

We were married for 46 years: years of joy, pain, heartache and challenges. A month after we married Ralph severely damaged his back and so started 46 years of hospitals, operations, doctors and ambulances. Four heart attacks, quadruple bypass surgery, COPD…I could go on but I won’t because through it all we were surrounded by saints, many at Zion, who prayed for us. There were many times when I couldn’t pray. Many times when I doubted and shouted at God. Many times when I have despaired. Through it all God didn’t let me go and even when He felt far away He was holding me tight. 

It is important to be part of a church family. We are a small fellowship at Zion which has brought its challenges, but the Lord has blessed us with our pastor’s children and my grandchildren and the work goes on. We have a vision and God is honouring the faithfulness of His people in St Ives.

Retirement and Sierra Leone!

In 2012 I decided it was time to retire. To be honest I didn’t spend hours praying, I went into school one day and told the Head that I would be leaving in the summer. I hadn’t even told Ralph!  I mentioned to Pastor Bob that I might be interested in becoming involved with the Sierra Leone Mission and when he returned from conference he told me that I was on the committee and that I would be going to Sierra Leone the following year!! 

In 2013 I accompanied Gordon Hamilton and six teenagers on a journey that would define my focus in the coming years. Gordon told me that Sierra Leone would get under my skin, into my heart and always on my mind!  What a privilege to be part of a Connexion that treasures and fosters a relationship with a people who are so deprived and poor yet so rich in their love for God.

In the last seven years I have witnessed God doing ‘immeasurably more than we can think or imagine.’ I have had the joy of watching street children develop into mature, Christian young men and women.  Churches being built in Brama, Fabaina and Mabang, where folk are hungry to learn about Jesus.  Shipments increasing so that more folk can be blessed with material items sent with the love of Jesus. And now a new Health Centre… words fail me! 

Last year Ralph was ‘promoted to glory’ and suddenly the world has been turned upside down with Coronavirus. Everything has a season and although I do NOT consider myself old, I can look back over my life and with confidence acknowledge that God has never failed me. His Grace has been sufficient and I look forward in expectancy and excitement to the future.

Janet O'Shea
Zion Community Church, St Ives

Welcome to the new Editor of The Voice, Esther Green, and congratulations from the whole Connexion Community for her fabulous first issue!

The Sierra Leone Mission summer edition of The Voice includes a Bible Study with David Sweetman, news of the construction of a Health Centre at Bethesda, shoe bag distribution to local children, Covid-19 updates, mission news during the Lockdown, and much more...

Click on the link below to read the whole issue:

Voice - Summer 2020

To send articles, news and photographs for future editions, please email Esther at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Enjoy!

Don't forget to click on Short Thought each week to hear a new 60-second message from Simon Allaby, our Pastor at Bolney Village Chapel. 

Simon's recordings cover a wide range of subjects and issues with insight and inspiration. In the featured message 'Emerging from Lockdown' Simon considers feelings of uncertainty and anxiety with those of the Psalmist.

To listen to the recordings each week just go to the SHORT THOUGHT button, which appears at the top of every website page.

Enjoy!

Link to: Emerging from Lockdown

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance

The Government has removed the restrictions in England, designed to stop the spread of COVID 19, but there are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading the virus.

• Get vaccinated
• Let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside
• Consider wearing a face covering in crowded indoor spaces

For more information, visit the official Gov.uk COVID-19 page.

Link: Gov.uk COVID-19 Guidance

Connexion churches

Throughout the pandemic, our church communities came together via websites, zoom meetings and YouTube recordings in order to share Sunday services, worship, prayer and sermons.

To access recordings click on the website links below

• Wormley Free Church: www.wormleyfreechurch.org.uk. 
• Rosedale Community Church YouTube page: Rosedale Community Church
• Bolney Village Chapel Facebook page: Bolney Village Chapel
• South Street Free Church, Eastbourne, YouTube page: South Street Free Church
• Goring Free Church: goringfreechurch.org.uk
• The Countess Free Church, Ely: countessely.co.uk 
• New Connections Free Church: newconnexionschurch.org.uk
• Turners Hill Free Church: thfchurch.org
• Woodmancote Church: woodmancotechurch.org.uk
• The Lockdown Band website: www.wormleylockdownband.com

We are very happy to share the latest issue of Voice.

Contents include a word from Gordon Hamilton, the new Editor, news from Sierra Leone and the SLM, the Trustees General Report and an update from Connexion Youth - plus much more..!

Click in the link below to read on:

Voice 2020 

This Sunday 31 May there will be an opportunity to virtually meet up with The Countess Free Church, Ely, for a Pentecost gathering via Zoom.

The start time will be 10.30am with Zoom lines open from 10.15am to allow for a chat beforehand.

If you would like to join in, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the end of Friday 29 May with your request for inclusion.

This is part of the initiative during the Lockdown period, for Connexion church services and messages to be made available online for members of our community to join if their own church is unable to offer a weekly service virtually.

Other church services

Last Sunday 24 May, Sheppey Evangelical Church shared a recorded message and prayer. Click on their You Tube page Sheppey Evangelical Church to access.

Goring Free Church have been streaming video messages and worship. Click on their You Tube page Goring Free Church to access their church playlists.

Ben Quant at Wormley Free Church is also continuing to post up Sunday services on their website each week. To access the services click on the website link: www.wormleyfreechurch.org.uk.

Bethany Green's weekly messages from Rosedale Community Church can be viewed on their You Tube link: Rosedale Community Church.

Simon Allaby at Bolney Village Chapel is also streaming their Sunday morning worship on their Facebook page. Click on the link: www.facebook.com/bolneyvillagechapel.

David Batchelor at South Street Free Church has also been streaming Sunday services on You Tube. Click on the link: South Street Free Church.

The Trustees express deep thanks and gratitude to Noel Vallely and Glynn Phillips for their dedicated service to the important work of the Connexion. Noel and Glynn have reached the point of retirement from the Board of Trustees having collectively served the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon for more than 28 years. 

Noel has worked as a Trustee for 18 years, including service as Chairman for 12 years. 

‘After a number of attempts, I was persuaded to become a Trustee in 2002. Dr Brian Baldwin was Chairman at that time, and I followed him into the Chair when he retired in 2008. 

‘It has been my greatest privilege and blessing to visit our Connexion churches and see something of their life and worship. These have been years of new beginnings. Nearly every church experienced their minister leaving and new appointments made. It was a joy to watch each one as they settled in, grew in stature, and developed fruitful ministries. 

‘Regulations around charities developed significantly during this time, and this led to greater adjustment, tighter controls and ultimately the highly significant move towards Connexion churches becoming Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) which in turn has drawn our ministers and Trustees towards a focus on mission and new, exciting ways of coming together, to concentrate more intently on networking, outreach and promotion of the Gospel in communities. 

‘Much has changed, but what never changed are the friendships made, the life of faith, fellowship, prayer and sound bible teaching across Connexion churches. It was God’s gift and my pleasure to be a part of this progression.’

Glynn joined the Board of Trustees in 2009.

‘Some 10 years ago someone said to me: "Have you ever thought about…?” and it was not long before I became a Connexion Trustee. During the time thereafter, and through many conferences and visits to the churches, the ongoing list of tasks was never totally completed, but many friends were made. 

‘Buildings became my speciality in the Trustee team and some "interesting projects" came along over those years - perhaps I could write a book on them! Trustee life has changed considerably during my time in office. We have seen the introduction of more regulation and with it a need for everyone to apply wisdom concerning Health and Safety. Perhaps my closing remark would be to continue to read the advice given to you and follow it through!’

We wish Noel and Glynn a very happy, healthy and peaceful retirement, and thank them on behalf of the entire Connexion Community for their exemplary service to our churches and the organisation as a whole. 

Noel’s immense contribution to the Connexion will secure its future for years to come, maintaining its integrity as one fellowship, a movement of missional churches, while releasing individual churches to take full control of their legal structures and finances.  

A very visible aspect of Glynn’s ministry was seen through his work on the legal and technical aspects of land and building management which has been a Godsend as so many of our churches have benefited from Glynn’s support and guidance on building development as well as maintenance issues. 

We also pleased to announce that Trustee David Lockett, has been appointed as Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees. We thank him for agreeing to take on this responsibility, which is supported by our encouragement and prayers.