Who's Who
Archie and Sam Coates – Vicar
Vicar, Alpha, Vision, Ministry, Children, Tots & Toddlers, Women
archie@stpetersbrighton.org
sam@stpetersbrighton.org
We moved to Brighton with our 4 small children (3 boys, 1 girl) in Summer 2009 from central London, where Archie was Associate Vicar at Holy Trinity Brompton. Previously, we lived in Surrey and Oxford, but moving to Brighton is a homecoming for Sam – she is a Brightonian, and used to wait to catch the bus outside St Peter’s! We have arrived at this point in our lives, leading HTB’s first church plant outside London, on the back of a whole sequence of events and coincidences, which we look forward to telling you about one day. They have all helped to underline our sense of calling to this church in this city at this time. We love Brighton – the sea, the buzz, running along the seafront (Archie), the shops (Sam!) – and St Peter’s in particular, and we’re excited about the years ahead and what God will do.
Jonny Gumbel – Curate
Curate, Helping People Team
I got ordained in June 2009, married Tara a week later, and now we've moved to Brighton to be part of this exciting venture. I grew up in London and trained for ordination at St Mellitus College, doing a placement at St Dionis Church in Parsons Green. Before that I was a 'manny' or male nanny. Brighton has always been close to my heart. We used to come to Hove as a family for a few weeks every summer until I was twelve, Tara and I got engaged in Brighton in January 2009 and I've had a painting of St Peter's hanging above my bed since I was ten years old.
Tara Gumbel
Operations, Helping People Team, Building Project
Born in a commune in the Forest of Dean, I'm actually a country girl at heart but lived in London for 10 years before heading down to Brighton. As Jonny says, we got married in July 2009 and so this is a real adventure for us, starting married life here together. In London I worked mainly in the charity sector as a fundraiser but for the last three years was on the staff at HTB project managing a variety of building projects. I'll never forget the first time I saw St Peter's, the day we got engaged - we came round the corner and there it was, ahead of us. It was awesome and we are so excited to be part of the team here.
Paul Nelson
Worship, The Six team, Students, Youth, Production
After a couple of years in London my wife Sarah and I moved to Brighton feeling so excited about being part of St Peter’s. Whilst in London I was on staff at HTB, and prior to that I studied Theology at Nottingham University. Going back even further Sarah and I grew up in Surrey, where we remember Archie as a young Curate! Sarah now works as a Communications Officer at the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex Uni. Brighton is such an amazing city – it’s bursting at the seams with creativity and young people, and we feel so privileged to be joining in with all that God is doing.
Helena Lomas
Involvement, Teams, The Ten Team
I'm the latest addition to the team! My husband Christopher and I moved down here in December 09 to be part of the team, and are so excited to be involved. My background is in Recruitment and Headhunting, and for the last 3 years I've been at HTB working on the Alpha Course. My heart is to keep St Peter's as a warm and welcoming place where everyone feels instantly at home and involved, also to make sure Brighton knows we're open for business. I love it when you can see people doing what they are passionate about, and I hope I can help this happen at St Peter's.