About us

A Partnership of Bible-centred churches in Sussex working together to train leaders, strengthen and plant churches, and advance the gospel.

“Gospel Partnerships have emerged as a wonderful way of expressing the unity that exists between free church and Anglican evangelicals, and of multiplying gospel ministry by working together. I am delighted that so many FIEC churches are part of the Sussex Gospel Partnership, are benefitting from its work and are contributing to the realisation of its vision for the area.”
David Jackman
former President of the Proclamation Trust

Partnership

Not simply a fellowship of people who enjoy each other’s company, but a Partnership of churches who believe it is better, and more effective, to work together.

Bible-Centred

Joining together churches who are absolutely clear that the Bible is the unique and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

Churches

Bringing together churches of different denominations, whose members can get to know each other and, wherever helpful, work together.

In Sussex

Working together in East and West Sussex to strengthen and expand gospel ministry.

Formation & Growth

Inspired by the development of a partnership of churches in the North West of England, a group of 20 Anglican and Free Church leaders from across Sussex launched the Sussex Gospel Partnership in 2007.

Since then the Partnership has grown to include more than 70 Churches and Individual Ministers with a shared vision of Bible-centred churches working together to strengthen and expand gospel ministry. The Sussex Gospel Partnership is now part of a growing network of gospel partnerships around the country.

Download an introduction to the SGP

Staff Team

Spencer Shaw

Director

Spencer joined as SGP’s Director in January 2025.

He became a Christian as a child and worked as an industrial physicist before training for ministry and then serving as a church Pastor for 23 years.

He helped set up the South-West Gospel Partnership and taught on its training course. He is the chair of Trustees of  ‘A Passion for Life’, a Team Leader with United Beach Missions and has been a Trustee of the FIEC. He is married to Ruth and has four adult sons. He has recently welcomed his first grandchild.

Wendy Jourdain

Administrator and Director’s PA

Wendy joined SGP in the summer of 2025.  She previously worked as Church Administrator for Cuckfield Baptist Church.  Became a member of CBC after being baptised in 2007 and now serves as their Designated Safeguarding Officer and helps with Children’s Ministry.  Wendy enjoys spending time with her daughter, planning new adventures and likes to keep fit, even though her body disagrees!

Jon Hobbs

Associate Trainer (part-time)

Jon is the SGP’s Associate Trainer, teaching on the training courses and speaking at training events. Alongside his role with the SGP, he leads Grace Church Haywards Heath. Jon trained at Oak Hill theological college, and has served in church leadership since 2003. Before that he worked in business, as a policeman, and in student ministry with UCCF. He is married to Bethan and has three children.

Steering Group

Jon Hobbs

Associate Trainer (part-time)

Jon is the SGP’s Associate Trainer, teaching on the training courses and speaking at training events. Alongside his role with the SGP, he leads Grace Church Haywards Heath. Jon trained at Oak Hill theological college, and has served in church leadership since 2003. Before that he worked in business, as a policeman, and in student ministry with UCCF. He is married to Bethan and has three children.

Roger Barden

Regional Representative for A Passion for Life

Roger has been Pastor at Three Bridges Free Church in Crawley since 2017 having previously served as an Assistant Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Leeds. He is married to Grace who is a local GP and has three children. Roger enjoys watching (and occasionally playing) sport, including following his hometown football team, Reading FC.

Sam Carter

Since 2021 Sam has been rector of Barcombe church, having previously served a curacy in Eastbourne. Before ordination he worked in telecoms regulation. He enjoys bootcamp, being outdoors, fun with the family and listening to The Rest is History.

Esther Cowley

Esther is married to John, who is Pastor of Forest Fold Baptist Church in Crowborough, where they have been serving for 26 years. They have 3 girls who live in various parts of the UK. Esther enjoys meeting with friends and family, playing badminton, walking their Cockapoo Lottie, and exploring new places on holiday.

Rory Graham

Cluster Group Link (Hailsham & Crowborough)

Rory is Associate Vicar at Hailsham Parish Church. He became a Christian as a young teenager on a summer camp. He has previously worked for churches in Hove and Crowborough. He enjoys his noisy family, days out at the beach, and Indian food. He knows the first line to the Romanian national anthem and once met the President of Mozambique!

James Knowles

Chair of Steering Group

James is married to Tash and they have two children, Jake and Chloe. Before arriving at All Saints Eastbourne they lived in North London where James worked on staff at Christ Church Cockfosters. James trained for ordained ministry at Oak Hill College. Before that James worked as a Customs and Immigration Officer in Sydney, Australia. He enjoys football, kayaking, walking and BBQs.

Julian Rebera

Julian is married to Georgie, has four daughters, 8 grandchildren and 2 boys living with them. He was converted out of J/W’s in 1992, worked as a student evangelist for two years before being employed by FIEC in 1996 as a church planter. He has worked in Brighton since, now planting Grace Church Brighton with Skully.

Claudia Sear

Claudia is a part-time Children and Families Worker at St Bartholomew’s Maresfield, where her husband Ben has been the Rector since 2019. They met when studying at Oak Hill and since then have added 3 lovely daughters and many pets into their household! When she’s not busy with ministry and family, Claudia runs a small business and buys houseplants she doesn’t need.

Adam Thrift

Chair of Sussex Youthworks

Aim & Values

Convinced that Christ will build his church, we are passionate about working in partnership to grow local churches through:

  • Bible centred ministry
  • Uniting in prayer
  • Courageous evangelism
  • Authentic gospel unity

Under God we aim:

  • To encourage church leaders by working together
  • To recruit and train church leaders
  • To encourage and organise evangelistic initiatives
  • To encourage gospel growth in existing churches
  • To encourage and initiate the strategic planting of new churches
  • To work together for the preservation and advance of the gospel in our different denominations or affiliations

Unity in the truth

The basis of the Partnership is that the fundamental truths of Christianity, as revealed in Holy Scripture, should govern the teaching and practice of the church.

SGP Doctrinal Basis

Membership

The strength of the Partnership lies in it being primarily a Partnership between churches. However, two sorts of Partnership are possible:

  • Church Partnership where a church enters the Partnership, in accordance with its own decision making procedures
  • Individual Partnership for ministers where the church they serve is not yet in a position to become a member
  • Associate Partner for those individuals in ministry and who wish to join with us but aren’t leading churches

Supporters

Supporters are individuals who pledge to support the work of the Partnership in prayer and financially. Supporters will receive regular updates of news for prayer and information.

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