Our Team
We welcome the contributions of each member to see our church flourish. Together, we play our parts, for the good of the whole. You are welcome if you are in a season needing rest or a season of service. There are many ways to serve in our community from helping to run our weekly services to pastoral care & preaching. Please talk with the staff team as you consider how you would like to get more involved.
Our church is led by:
Parish Council
Our Parish Council is the governing body for the financial and property affairs of the parish. The 2020 Parish Councillors are Deanne Latham, Linda Davies and Bernard Stewart.
Wardens
Our Wardens are on the Parish Council and are responsible for administering the financial and property affairs of the Parish. The 2020 Wardens are Barbara Booth, David Triggs and Francis Harper.
Staff Team
Our Staff team has the responsibility for overseeing the ministry affairs of the parish.
Rev Philip Bradford, Acting Rector, philipATpaddington.church
Before ordination Philip was an Audiologist and in his early days served at St. Mark’s Darling Point, the Parish of East Sydney (looking after the congregation at St. Peter’s Woolloomooloo). In April 1991 he was appointed Rector of St. George’s Paddington, a position he held until November 2000 when he left to become the Rector of All Saints’ Hunters Hill. Philip is married to Rosemary, has four children (two were married at St Georges), ten grandchildren with two more on the way. In February 2015 Philip was asked to be the Acting Rector of St. Luke’s Enmore following the retirement of their rector, Gwylm Henry Edwards. He has been in this position for four years and concluded his ministry there at the beginning of February 2019. Philip is a strong advocate for women in ministry and we are delighted to have him join us again in Paddington.
Jessica Carroll Smith, Community Pastor, jessicaATpaddington.church
Jessica leads our Afternoon Service and supports our congregtaional and local community life. She loves using her organisational gifts to build community, and to encourage service and pastoral care. She acts as a central hub of information about our life together. Jessica works 2.5 day per week for the church, she’s best contacted on Monday, Thursday or Sunday. She lives in the Church Rectory.
In her other time, Jessica is Operations Director at Common Grace, a movement of Christians passionate about Jesus and justice. She is married to Byron and has two children – Aurora and Marlowe.
Jaimie Laverty, Children & Families Pastor, jaimieATpaddington.church
Jaimie is our Children’s and Families Pastor working two days a week at the Parish. Jaimie co-ordinates our SRE provision at the local school, leads our children’s work in the Afternoon Service and supports the Something New Community. She is passionate about young people flourishing in their relationship with God and in their own individuality. When Jaimie is not working at the church she is teaching dance for the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation with young people of refugee backgrounds. Or she can be found at the beach with a good book.
Dr Byron Smith, Assistant Pastor, byronATpaddington.church
Byron assists with preaching and pastoring in both our morning and afternoon services. He works one day a week in the parish while dividing the rest of his time between parenting, public speaking and the pitter patter of tiny (insect) feet. He has a doctorate in Christian ethics on emotional responses to climate change. He frequently speaks and writes about following Jesus in a warming world. He’s authored a number of scholarly articles and book chapters and has joined in creative peaceful actions against new coal projects. He has 2 worm farms and 3 bee hives and a regular podcast. He loves Five Ways and chatting with locals about religion, politics and the weather.
Brooke Prentis, PEACEtalks Director, brookeATpaddington.church
Brooke is our PEACEtalks Director. Brooke is an Aboriginal Christian leader from the Waka Waka peoples. Brooke is the CEO of Common Grace and the Coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering. She is a Chartered Accountant by profession with over 15 years senior management experience. Brooke is currently studying for a Masters of Theology.