Welcome - Central Sussex United Area

Autumn Woodland Halnaker Woods

Welcome to the Central Sussex United Area of The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church

The Central Sussex United Area is comprised of 22 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

Rev Barbara Evans-Routley

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 sees me beginning my 16^th year of ordained ministry and my 3^rd 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 look forward to 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.

John Lane - Co-Leader URC

John Lane I became the URC (lay) Co-Leader of the CSUA in 2018 having previously been a Lloyd’s broker and financial adviser before retiring in 2017. Married for 48 years, my wife and I have been blessed with 4 sons and 7 grandchildren who keep us busy. We live in Broad Oak near Heathfield and enjoy our beautiful countryside. I am an Elder at 2 URCs and am now also a Trustee of Cornerstone a SCLEP in Uckfield as well as Chair of Trustees at Brighthelm, Brighton. In my spare time(!) I am a local organiser for Christian Aid.