Pastors & Elders

LEWIS ALLEN
LEWIS ALLENSenior Pastor
Lewis, Sarah and their five children moved to Huddersfield in 2010 to plant Hope after 12 years’ pastoral ministry at Gunnersbury Baptist Church, West London. Lewis has completed a doctoral degree in church history and theology at Oxford University, and has published several books on Christian living and ministry, which you can see here.
The Allens love living in the town, and enjoy walking in the hills with their dog, and Lewis is into running and fly-fishing.

Lewis has published several books on Christian living and ministry, which you can see here.

DAVID DENT
DAVID DENTAssociate Pastor
David is a small town Australian who moved to England in 2009 chasing his then girlfriend, now wife, Joanna. They have 4 children together. David has previously worked in retail, as a cement renderer, and in various other things. Prior to coming to Hope Church he worked as an assistant pastor in Oxford and, before that, he studied theology at Oak Hill Theological College.
In his spare time he enjoys playing sports, improving his garden, or bbq-ing with friends.
PAUL THOMSON
PAUL THOMSONElder
Paul is married to Gill and they have three sons, two of whom are married with children, whilst the third lives and works in Oxford. Paul works as a consultant with schools across the North of England and is delighted to preach in churches across the same region. He hangs on to the hope of keeping fit at the gym and loves to study hymns and their writers.
GRAHAM POWELL
GRAHAM POWELLElder
Graham is married to Debra and they have two grown up children, a son and a daughter who live and work in Oxford and Cambridge respectively. Graham grew up in a Christian home and committed his life to Christ over 40 years ago in his mid-teens. Graham is retired and enjoys walking and watching most sports.

Deacons

KELECHI OKEGBE
KELECHI OKEGBEDeacon
Kelechi has been at Hope church since September, 2016 and a deacon since late 2018. He is currently a research student at the University of Huddersfield School of Computing and Engineering. Kelechi was saved at age 7 when a family friend explained the gospel to him at home. He is happily married to Wendy and they live in the town. Kelechi works part-time as a Maths and Engineering Tutor for foundation year and international year one students , and previously worked briefly as a science teacher in Nigeria and did an Engineering internship at Moventas here in Huddersfield. His hobbies are running, reading and listening to good music. Kelechi can be found on a typical Sunday setting up or packing down after service.
THOMAS ACKIE
THOMAS ACKIEDeacon
Thomas was saved at the age of 10 at a Christian Summer Camp in Northumberland. He is Married to Nicole and enjoys traveling and will talk at length about pretty much any sport that exists. His favourite hobbies include (but are not limited to) wearing hats, procrastinating about writing personal bios and renovating old houses.
JOHN WAITE
JOHN WAITEDeacon
John has been at Hope Church Huddersfield since 2016. John is from Huddersfield and has lived and worked in the town all of his life. John became a Christian after reading a Bible and coming to know the glory and victory of Jesus Christ. John is married to Helena, with whom they have two children. He enjoys spending time with family, getting outdoors and watching his beloved Leeds United.
NAOMI NORMAN
NAOMI NORMANDeacon
JOSH NORMAN
JOSH NORMANDeacon
NAOMI ROBINSON
NAOMI ROBINSONDeacon
I’m married to Stephen with three young children. I work part time as a midwife, alongside being a mum and wife which are my first priorities. I was raised in a loving Christian home and have known a personal relationship with Jesus since late childhood. I love being involved in the women’s ministry at hope church and I’m really keen to see growth in the church in the areas of care, providing purposeful hospitality and discipling one another. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors on walks, spending time with family and trying to snatch some time for creative activities!
DAVID FIRTHDeacon
PETER GODFREY
PETER GODFREYDeacon