Minister: Revd Dr Beth Cope
Beth moved to Northstowe in 2018, bringing a love of new build communities - noise, dust and all! - and passion for community-building, coffee, and asking Big Questions. She has a background as a computational mineral physicist, gaining her PhD at the University of Cambridge using Quantum Physics to probe deeply into how material structures function. She sees science and faith as perfect partners in the quest to understand the world around us.Beth is deeply committed to working together with Christians from other backgrounds, as well as those exploring their spirituality for the first time. She trained as an Anglican Pioneer Priest with the Cambridge Theological Federation, with placements in both local Anglican and Baptist churches, while also being involved in lay leadership in the nearby New Town of Cambourne (where the church is a partnership of the Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed and Anglican Churches, with strong links with the Quakers and Roman Catholics).
Assistant Minister (from June 2022): Revd Stephen Dove
Hello! I’m Stephen, really excited to be joining the adventure in Northstowe in the coming weeks. I’m a big fan of music, drinking gin and baking. I’ve got a growing collection of house plants and I’ve recently rediscovered my love of running. Before ordination I was a pioneer minister not so far away in Ely and before that I was studying Interior Design at University.Church Council
Pathfinder Church Council exists to take a strategic leadership role within the church working collaboratively with the minister, to effect the smooth running of the church and delivery of the mission of God within the community of Northstowe.Pathfinder Church Mission (as stated in our BMO): “to enable the further development of a worshipping community so that it might become a sustainable and viable church with responsibility for mission in the area of Northstowe, establishing an organic Christian community for the people who live there, making disciples of Jesus, and serving the local community”
Pathfinder Church Values: praying exploring and sharing
Will Addison (Warden) - warden @ northstowe.church
I’ve really enjoyed being part of Pathfinder Church. I am excited by the chance for us to work together to build a community of Christians in Northstowe and the surrounding villages. I’d like to get to know you all better and I look forward to finding new ways for us to support each other in growing our connection with God and the impact that has on our lives. I’d also like to do my bit to help with the practical functioning of our new church.
Becky Eccleston (Treasurer) - treasurer @ northstowe.church
Hello! My name is Becky. I’m a Mum, teacher, wife and sailor; I love the outdoors and coffee. My favourite place in the world is by the sea, preferably with a good book. When we can’t get to the sea, we enjoy sailing locally instead. I stepped down from teaching adults when we moved here last year and I now run my own business from home.I’m standing for council as I want to use my skills and experience to serve God and his people, and because I enjoy solving problems and making things happen. I also know about the quality of cake around here!
Hannah Mellows (Council Member)
Hello, my name is Hannah Mellows. I am a mother of three, living in Northstowe. We as a family have loved being part of Pathfinder Church Northstowe and I've enjoyed being involved in the development of the church. Being on church council means that I can prayerfully be involved in the growth of the church and support those in leadership, which in turn will help the community of Northstowe.
Peter Cope (Council Member)
I grew up in a Christian family, developing a personal faith as a teenager. I bring experience of being on PCC’s and Church councils, most recently having been Church Warden at Cambourne Church and been part of the council here since the beginning
Rachel Addison (Deanery Link)
I'm Rachel, a mum of two, part time music teacher, foster carer and big fan of Pathfinder church, Northstowe. A large part of our time at the church has been online, but even so we have felt so welcomed by the family and love the ethos of praying and exploring together. We are really looking forward to journeying with everyone as the church continues to grow and evolve and I'm happy to serve in whatever way helps the community
Michelle Kemp (Safeguarding Officer) safeguarding @ northstowe.church
If you have any questions or concerns about safeguarding, please get in touch with Michelle on safeguarding@northstowe.church
Worship Gang
The Worship Gang is made up of 8 Yr 5/6 students at Pathfinder Primary. Supported by Revds Beth and Stephen (wearing their pink lanyards), the students proudly wear blue lanyards as they meet on Thursday lunchtimes to review recent Collective Worships, discuss how they could be Even Better, and prepare to plan and lead upcoming events. They also get involved in dreaming about ways to help those of all religious and non religious beliefs find space to reflect, and put those reflections in action, for the good of the whole community, not just themselves.Ministry Students
We hugely value strengthen our connections with the wider church, across the denominations, by having students on placements. The students are often doing different courses, and have different levels of involvement.Most recently, we celebrate having had trainee ministers from Ridley, Westcott, and Westminster colleges.
Do speak to Beth if you have any questions
Download our 2021 Annual Report (pdf)
Ecumenical Partners
Pathfinder Church Northstowe is growing up organically among those finding and exploring faith here in Northstowe. It comes out of fifteen years of local churches praying and dreaming together under the Churches Together banner, supported by the Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council.- to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body; and
- to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world
to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
* including the welcome of Quaker involvement because of their manifold shared faith evenwhile acknowledging that they do not have a creedal basis.Links with the 5 folds family of churches
While Pathfinder Church is firmly rooted in the new town of Northstowe, we also celebrate our connections to the more established villages around us.
Phase 1 of Northstowe lies within the Church of England parish of St Michael and All Saints Longstanton. This means that All Saints Longstanton is our parish church. This is the ancient building where we normally conduct weddings. We baptise both in Northstowe and in the parish church of Longstanton. We also partner with the local church community there for special occasions such as Remembrance or "midnight" Communion at Christmas
The surrounding villages form a team known as 5 folds. This includes
* Longstanton
* Willingham
* Swavesey
* Over
Revd Beth and Pathfinder Church Council work closely with the 5folds team, which includes:
Revd Simon Gill is the Team Rector
Revd Lucy Cleland is Team Vicar
Canon Jan Payne is Licensed Lay Minister.
More details on how to contact the 5 folds churches...
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
At Pathfinder Church we take seriously the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. This page gives information and advice on what to do if you suspect abuse, and is particularly helpful if you are in a position of responsibility within the church.
You can download the Church of England’s policy document: Promoting a Safer Church (pdf)
What to do if…
You have concerns about possible abuse (including allegations):
• In an emergency, call emergency services 999.
• Otherwise, consult the person to whom you are responsible.
• Decide together whether to seek advice or to make an immediate referral to police or care services (see contact details below).
• Always contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
• Keep a record of what happened, your concerns and your actions.
• Tell your parish priest.
• Only tell others who need to know.
• Do not alert the alleged perpetrator.
A child, young person or adult wishes to disclose they have been abused:
• Listen. Keep listening. Do not question or investigate.
• Do not promise confidentiality; tell them we may need to share this.
• Assure them they are not to blame.
• Tell them what you are going to do and that they will be told what happens.
• Make careful notes of what is said, record dates, times, events and when you are told.
• Report it to the person to whom you are responsible and your priest or safeguarding representation.
• Only tell those who need to know.
Things to remember:
• Treat everyone with respect, setting a positive example for others.
• Respect personal space and privacy.
• Ensure any actions cannot be misrepresented by someone else.
• Challenge unacceptable behaviour.
• Do not put anyone, including yourself, in a vulnerable or compromising situation.
• Do not have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with others.
• You must not keep allegations or suspected abuse secret.
Further resources:
Ely Diocese Safeguarding webpages: www.elydiocese.org/safeguarding
Contact details
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser: Rebecca Boswell; rebecca.boswell@elydiocese.org; 01353 652731
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer: Sarah King; sarah.king@elydiocese.org; 01353 652735
Your minister: Revd Dr Beth Cope; pioneer.minister@northstowe.church; 01954 261 181
Church Safeguarding Officer: Michelle Kemp: safeguarding@northstowe.church
Local Council Protection Office:
- For children: Tel 0345 045 5203
- For adults: Tel 0345 045 5202
Police:
- Dial 101
- Dial 999 in an emergency
- ChildLine (support and advice for children): www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 1111
- NSPCC (for adults worries about a child): www.nspcc.org.uk Tel: 0808 800 5000
- Stop it Now / Lucy Faithfull Foundation (for an adult worried about their own behaviour or another’s behaviour towards children): www.stopitnow.org.uk Tel: 0808 1000 900
Safeguarding Sunday
In September, we mark Safeguarding Sunday as a day to give thanks for all those working for the good of all of us,a day to hold in our hearts all those who have been hurt or harmed by our actions or inaction, a day to look to the future and commit to do our part to make and keep this a safer place.We prayed:
Dear God,
Help us to be a church that:
Loves, welcomes, protects.
Listens, learns, serves.
Repents, restores, transforms.
Values, cares, believes.
God of Justice and compassion, hear our prayer.
Help us, heal us, guide us, we pray.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
Safeguarding Training
We encourage everyone regularly involved with Pathfinder Church to consider taking the short, online, Basic Awareness training module provided by the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal (cofeportal.org). If you do, please send a copy of your certificate, afterwards, to our volunteer email address.If you would like to get more involved in helping run events, please email volunteer @ northstowe.church [without the spaces!]
All those involved in leadership are Safely Recruited, with appropriate levels of references and DBS checks, as well as additional safeguarding training.
Photo Consent Form
At our events, we love to take photographs as a record of the day, and which may be used for publicity including but not limited to church displays/posters/leaflets/social media/streaming in accordance with our Photography Policy, as reproduced on our form or available to download [Photography Policy]If you want to opt out even of informal roaming group photography, you can use our form. Please also let the Session Lead know.
We only take individual photography with your consent . Our form can be used to update that too:
bit.ly/PCNPhotos
Forms, Downloads and Policies
Forms
You can download our Gift Aid form here. But we really prefer to handle this online! Visit our Giving page to find out more about tax efficient giving.
Please print, complete, and return c/o Church House, 6 Woodpecker Close, Northstowe, CB24 1AW
Downloads of Policies (PDF)
Revd Dr Beth Cope
Church House, 6 Woodpecker Close
Northstowe
CB24 1AW
01954 261181
