The team

Sam Pearce - Church Of England Diocesan Reader

After a full working life and more than 40 years' service as a Reader in Plymouth, my wife Thea & I moved to Burgess Hill in February 2002 to be nearer our daughter and her family in West Norwood, London. Then in September 2002 I was given permission to officiate in the Diocese of Chichester.

Since then, as well as preaching and leading services, I have become involved in preparing for training Lay Ministers of Communion, joined the Cathedral Chaplains team, been authorised to officiate at funerals, helped to plan regular men's breakfasts, joined the Debt Advisors Team at the local Community Church and am a member of the team of Pastoral Visitors in St Andrew's parish.

The rest of my time is taken up with exploring the area and visiting our daughter with Thea. We have also joined the Burgess Hill University of the Third Age, and I also joined Hassocks golf club to try and reduce a massive handicap!

In all, I think it is fair to say that God hasn't finished with me yet!

Alan Smith - Director of Music.

Alan Smith was born in London in 1962 and spent his childhood in Croydon. He was Organ Scholar at Kings’ College, London, where he studied composition with Nicola LeFanu and David Lumsdaine, and also holds a Licentiate Diploma in Composition from Trinity College, London. Following postgraduate training at the London Institute of Education, Alan began his teaching career in 1985 and the following year he took up a post at Oakmeeds School, Burgess Hill. In 1990, Alan became Head of Music at Hazelwick School, Crawley, a post he continues to hold.  

In the same year, he came to some prominence by winning the RSCM’s annual composing competition. His successful entry, Let the Peoples Praise You, became his first published piece and continues to be widely performed. Since then, his choral and organ compositions have won several awards, most recently the 2003 Thornesian Prize, an honourable mention in the 2004 Vanguard Premieres Competition and in 2005, a highly commended award in the IMRO Composers Competition, together with first prize in the RSCM Norwich and Norfolk anthem writing competition. In October 2007, his music was featured as part of the 2007 Annual Festival of New Organ Music, in a series of concerts in London, Lisbon and Helsinki, whilst in 2008, he received his first BBC Radio 3 broadcasts in a performance by the BBC Singers as well as a choral evensong from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

Alan’s music – a catalogue of about 200 pieces published by a variety of companies in the UK and America - has received international recognition in recent years. As well as regular performances in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK and USA, his works have been performed in 15 other countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Since 1988, Alan has been Director of Music at St Andrew’s. He lives in the nearby village of Newick with his wife and three children and is a member of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers, the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Incorporated Association of Organists. 

Carol Smethurst - Churchwarden

I have served as Church Warden for the past five and half years which I very much enjoy. Prior to this role I helped with Sunday school for ten years and have also run a Brownie pack. I have also served on the Parochial Church Council and social team for a number of years.

Married for nearly 40 years to husband Robert, we have two grown up daughters, one of whom is the Editor of St Andrew’s Parish Magazine. Our second daughter is married with 2 children and lives in nearby Uckfield. I have lived in Burgess Hill since 1968 and work at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath as a clinical coder.

Rob Waugh - Churchwarden

I have served as Church Warden since 2005 and have attended St Andrews since 1988, after moving to Burgess Hill in 1987 with my wife, Sally, and our two young sons, now both grown up. We were attracted to St Andrews by the friendly atmosphere and the variety of the services, from formal to experimental.

I never expected to become Churchwarden - but I have found it to be a great privilege to take on the responsibility for the church buildings and grounds and to try to help and encourage the many members of the congregation who serve in different roles within the church.

My background is in Physics. I work as a designer of specialised industrial coating machines and Sally teaches Maths. When not working we enjoy gardening and walking.

Celia Davis - Parish Administrator

My family were not Church goers but by the age of 29 I realised that Church goers seemed to have something I didn’t have, and that I wanted it. My lovely neighbours kept inviting me along to the local Church and when I finally agreed to go, I not only found faith, but acceptance and love and joy and fellowship. That was 30 years ago.

Today I am greatly privileged to have a job I love – I run the Parish Office with Sheila and Linda. It can become extremely busy, but incredibly rewarding - in a non pecuniary way.

I joined St Andrew’s in 1983 when we first moved to Burgess Hill and now have 5 grown up children and two very small grandsons, who have brought a new vigour to life!

Sheila Broom - Parish Secretary

I trained in London as a Secretary and worked in the capital where I met my husband, Dennis. I gave up full time work when our son was born and we moved to Burgess Hill in 1978 where our daughter was born and started attending St Andrew’s. I served as PCC Secretary for six years from 1992 and took over again when the Secretary moved away in 2005. When Ian Prior came to St Andrew’s as Vicar in 1993 and set up the Parish Office, Gordon Carss was appointed Parish Administrator and I joined him as Parish Secretary. I was born and brought up in the Church of England. My Grandfather and his brother were CMS missionary priests. Two of my cousins are married to incumbents and my brother is a retired priest.

Sarah Wilson - kidZone Leader.

I have always in been involved with the Church in some way with my father being a Vicar. I was born in Kent and spent the first 15 years travelling around the county in 4 different parishes including Reculver with the famous Reculver Towers which still have not fallen into the sea! In 1980 we moved to New Addington where I finished my education at Archbishop Tenison’s School in Croydon and met my future husband Tim.

Tim and I moved to Burgess Hill in 1998 and we have three boys who are all actively involved in the life of St Andrew’s through ViE*, kidZone, Cubs, Scouts and Holiday Club.

I became part of the St. Andrew’s family by helping with the crèche, then helping with Skyriders (Sunday school) which led to assisting with the teaching to finally becoming the overall leader In September 2008. I jointly run the annual Holiday Club and co organised several events to help celebrate the Church’s centenary in 2008. Also I am currently a member of the P.C.C.

My original occupation was in banking. However, my life is now firmly centred around teaching and children. Outside my ‘church life’ I am casual Teaching Assistant at Birchwood Grove School , Midday Meals Supervisor and parent helper.

When I have time I love to read and watch films.

Steve Watson - Church Webmaster & ViE* leader

I have lived in Burgess Hill since 1991, when my wife, Marian, and I got married and moved down from south London.

We joined St Andrew's in October 1991 and have not looked back! Our two children are members of the young people's groups and Marian helps to run the Baptism preparation classes, whilst I do the website (any comments gratefully received!), and am one of the youth leaders for ViE - the 11-18 age group.

Over the years I have also served on the Pariochial Church Council, with 5 years working on the finance sub committee.

Away from the Church, I work in I.T. for a major publishing company, and in any spare time I do have, broadcast programs on Mid Downs Hospital Radio at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, which I have been doing since 1991. Plus you can sometimes find me doing PA's at school fete's and town fun days!