Welcome to the Central Sussex United Area of The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church
The Central Sussex United Area is comprised of 20 churches in
villages and towns by the sea, in and around the Ashdown Forest and the South
Downs. It is bounded by the towns of Haywards Heath
(NW), Crowborough (NE), Newhaven (SW) and Eastbourne (SE), and symbolises the
unity between denominations as we seek together to share God’s love through our
mission and ministry in a variety of communities.
Rev'd Barbara Evans-Routley - Co-Leader Methodist
It is delightful to be returning to the South East, having spent part of my childhood in Folkestone, where my parents still live. I felt called to become a minister when I was 16 and so my Local Preachers training began in Kent. Since then, in following that sense of call, I have worked and studied, first as a Lay Worker and then as a Minister around the country, including in Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire, East Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, the West Midlands and now in East Sussex.
Autumn 2020 saw me begin my 16th year of ordained ministry and my 3rd appointment in the Superintendent’s role. It is always a privilege to meet, worship with and love the congregations and communities I have lived with over the years and I am enjoying doing that here too.
I am married to Catherine, who is a former eye nurse and now works as the Operations Manager for a Methodist Circuit in Warwickshire. We share our lives with a cat who demands our time and attention.
Stuart Dew - Co-Leader URC
Perhaps my best qualification for this role is that I have dual denomination heritage. When I was 15, I went with a friend to a Methodist youth club in North London and began attending evening services with other young people. I don't remember much of what was said in church, but I do clearly remember the kindness of the 'old people' there, who took a real interest in me. If being a Christian made them such lovely people, then I wanted to be one too. In adulthood, I have been a member of the United Reformed Church and a busy lay preacher. God renews me daily and forgives my many failings.
I was fortunate in having a rich and varied working life: newspaper reporter - BBC Radio news editor - probation officer - charity director - Church and Society secretary and then national press officer for the URC.
Humour is very important to me; I regard laughter as one of the best medicines known to woman and man. My particular fun comes from your reaction to my 'dad' jokes. I'm not sure I have space left to tell it, but have you heard the one about.....
© Central Sussex United Area 2009