Who we are

New Way is a networked community of people inspired by an understanding of God as a glorious and mysterious community of three persons in loving communion and mutual indwelling; a single Being, united in diversity, and known to us as creator, redeemer and life-giver whose love overflows to the whole of creation.

This inspires our understanding of church's identity, life and mission to be most effective as Small Christian Community, embracing a diverse group of people whose gifts and calling are directed to the well-being of our local communities.

New Way is resourced by people, both lay and ordained. The programme was started in 1992 by (the late) Derek Hanscombe (Vice Principal of USPG's United College of the Ascension), Jeanne Hinton (writer and a founder of Post Green Community), and Peter Price (now Bishop of Bath and Wells), as part of USPG's Encounter and Exchange Programme.

In a decade of work, New Way has initiated the publication of 4 books, published 12 resource booklets, led in excess of 50 workshop programmes and initiated practical communities in a number of settings.

The New Way team is now drawn from an ecumenical network of people who are engaged in a new way of being church.

New Way has received support and funding from - among others - the Christendom Trust, the Saltley Trust and USPG. Members and other generous benefactors also support the network.

Our core team

The New Way Team are a diverse community who bring a wide range of skills and experience to the work of the organisation. The team consists of Peter Stickland, Michael Bridgwater, John Summers, Felicity Summers, Catriona Robertson, Cameron Kirkwood, Alister Palmer, Angela Ormrod, Rosemary and Stephen Rymer and Jenny Humphreys. Bishop Peter Price, Dee Price and Jeanne Hinton are consultants to New Way.

Peter Stickland

An engineer by training, now a business manager involved in developing new ventures. He has had a long involvement with New Way and is now chairman of the Team. Peter's gentle but incisive chairmanship enables the New Way team to function as a community and to find its way to mutually agreed decisions.

Michael Bridgwater

Michael Bridgewater Trained as a naval architect, served in the Royal Navy and later lectured in shipbuilding and mechanical engineering. A Reader in the C of E, he has an MA in Applied Theology (Liberation Theologies) and has been a member of New Way since 1993. He reads widely, and is a great 'asker of questions'. His patron saint is Noah!

Angela Ormrod

Photo of Angela Ormrod Angela Ormrod qualified as a social worker and has worked in a variety of voluntary and community settings. She is currently co-ordinator of The Outstretched Hand, a drop-in centre for residents of the housing estate in Cardiff where she lives, aiming to provide a place of welcome at the heart of a divided and socially deprived community. She now regards this as her “church”, and an expression of her belief that the Christian faith embraces all of life. She left the Anglican church a few years ago, and now attends Quaker meetings when she can. She is an Associate member of the Iona Community and she also enjoys gardening, the countryside, and music.

She has been interested in New Way since attending a workshop in 1999, and joined the committee in 2006..

Cameron Kirkwood

Photo of Cameron Kirkwood Currently Superintendent Minister in the Methodist Church in Brixton, South London. He has experience of working in innner-city, multi-racial and multi-faith communities and prior to his present appointment he worked in Darlington, Bradford and another area in South London. Cameron brings a keen interest in Community Organising and has been actively involved in the sub-group developing Workshop material for 'New Way'.

Felicity Summers

Photo of Felicity Summers Joined the WRNS straight from school. Has been the 'Naval' wife, the 'curates' wife, the 'Vicar's' wife'! But she caught the 'New Way bug in 1991, and before her husband, when she was introduced to Liberation Theology while studying for a degree. Subsequently New Way workshops confirmed her enthusiasm for a "New Way of Being Church".

John Summers

Trained as an engineer, before being ordained into the Anglican church. A curacy in Fulham, followed by 8 years as a Naval Chaplain and 19 years as a Vicar in Plymouth. A 'New Way' workshop transformed his outlook on the church and its mission and shaped his practice in the parish of St Barnabas, Devonport until 'retirement' to South Brent (Devon) from where he continues to be actively engaged in the promotion of 'New Way'.

Catriona Robertson

Catriona is a person of many parts. Actively involved in her local community through Anglican church, multi-faith networks, and social researching, she brings a wide breadth of view to the Team. She established the first New Way website and maintained it for some years.

Alister Palmer

Alister Palmer's picture Alister is ministry enabler in the Anglican Parish of Filwood Park, Knowle West, South Bristol. He became involved with the Small Christian Communities movement and liberation theology in the mid 1980s during his time in Heath Town, Wolverhampton. He served as ministry officer in the Diocese of Tasmania from 1998 to 2002 helping develop mutual ministry in remote rural communities. This is a self-sustaining way of being church that doesn’t rely on the presence of an 'imported' minister. He is currently interested in the development of a theology of liberation that embraces the whole of Creation believing that the gospel has all too often been applied far too narrowly. He is convinced that small church is beautiful and that a shift from larger centralised to smaller localised church communities is inevitable as enter the terminal phase of the cheap fossil fuel era.

Stephen Rymer (Development Worker - part-time)

Yet another engineer, this one worked with quarrying and mining machinery before becoming Co-ordinator of a ministry team in a Bristol parish. This led to a seven year period as Parishes Resource Officer for Bristol Diocese. From there he moved to Scargill House, a Christian Conference Centre, as a lay Chaplain and member of the Scargill Community in 1997. He joined New Way in February 2003.

Our Consultants:

Jeanne Hinton

Is a founder member of the Post Green Community and has a deep commitment to community life. She is a story teller, compiler of stories and a writer. Her recent books are Changing Churches, and Changing Communities, both published by CTBI, Small Christian Communities Today, published by Orbis, and Church at the Edge, published by Kevin Mayhew.

Dee Price

Is mother of four grown up children, bishop's wife, and homemaker with a gift for hospitality and for creating community. Her ability to provide food and beds, at a moment's notice for whoever turns up to a New Way gathering is remarkable. She is a thoughtful, reflective leader of New Way workshops and retreats and source of deep intuitive wisdom among the team.

Peter Price

Peter is now Bishop of Bath and Wells. Along with Jeanne Hinton and the late Derek Hanscombe, he was one the founders of New Way in 1990 while general secretary of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He is author of several books Playing the Blue Note and Changing Churches being the most recent. His commitment to building community and to doing theology in the context of real life have been vital to the development of New Way and its publications.

Our vision
We have a big vision.

We long for and dream of networks of small Christian communities committed to social justice and peace in their neighbourhoods working in partnership with the local church throughout these islands and beyond.

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	Who we are New Way is a networked community of people inspired by an understanding of God as a glorious and mysterious community of three persons in loving communion and mutual indwelling; a single Being, united in diversity, and known to us as creator, redeemer and life-giver whose love overflows to the whole of creation. This inspires our understanding of church's identity, life and mission to be most effective as Small Christian Community, embracing a diverse group of people whose gifts and calling are directed to the well-being of our local communities. New Way is resourced by people, both lay and ordained. The programme was started in 1992 by (the late) Derek Hanscombe (Vice Principal of USPG's United College of the Ascension), Jeanne Hinton (writer and a founder of Post Green Community), and Peter Price (now Bishop of Bath and Wells), as part of USPG's Encounter and Exchange Programme. In a decade of work, New Way has initiated the publication of 4 books, published 12 resource booklets, led in excess of 50 workshop programmes and initiated practical communities in a number of settings. The New Way team is now drawn from an ecumenical network of people who are engaged in a new way of being church. New Way has received support and funding from - among others - the Christendom Trust, the Saltley Trust and USPG. Members and other generous benefactors also support the network. Our core team The New Way Team are a diverse community who bring a wide range of skills and experience to the work of the organisation. The team consists of Peter Stickland, Michael Bridgwater, John Summers, Felicity Summers, Catriona Robertson, Cameron Kirkwood, Alister Palmer, Angela Ormrod, Rosemary and Stephen Rymer and Jenny Humphreys. Bishop Peter Price, Dee Price and Jeanne Hinton are consultants to New Way. Peter Stickland An engineer by training, now a business manager involved in developing new ventures. He has had a long involvement with New Way and is now chairman of the Team. Peter's gentle but incisive chairmanship enables the New Way team to function as a community and to find its way to mutually agreed decisions. Michael Bridgwater Trained as a naval architect, served in the Royal Navy and later lectured in shipbuilding and mechanical engineering. A Reader in the C of E, he has an MA in Applied Theology (Liberation Theologies) and has been a member of New Way since 1993. He reads widely, and is a great 'asker of questions'. His patron saint is Noah! Angela Ormrod Angela Ormrod qualified as a social worker and has worked in a variety of voluntary and community settings. She is currently co-ordinator of The Outstretched Hand, a drop-in centre for residents of the housing estate in Cardiff where she lives, aiming to provide a place of welcome at the heart of a divided and socially deprived community. She now regards this as her “church”, and an expression of her belief that the Christian faith embraces all of life. She left the Anglican church a few years ago, and now attends Quaker meetings when she can. She is an Associate member of the Iona Community and she also enjoys gardening, the countryside, and music. She has been interested in New Way since attending a workshop in 1999, and joined the committee in 2006.. Cameron Kirkwood Currently Superintendent Minister in the Methodist Church in Brixton, South London. He has experience of working in innner-city, multi-racial and multi-faith communities and prior to his present appointment he worked in Darlington, Bradford and another area in South London. Cameron brings a keen interest in Community Organising and has been actively involved in the sub-group developing Workshop material for 'New Way'. Felicity Summers Joined the WRNS straight from school. Has been the 'Naval' wife, the 'curates' wife, the 'Vicar's' wife'! But she caught the 'New Way bug in 1991, and before her husband, when she was introduced to Liberation Theology while studying for a degree. Subsequently New Way workshops confirmed her enthusiasm for a "New Way of Being Church". John Summers Trained as an engineer, before being ordained into the Anglican church. A curacy in Fulham, followed by 8 years as a Naval Chaplain and 19 years as a Vicar in Plymouth. A 'New Way' workshop transformed his outlook on the church and its mission and shaped his practice in the parish of St Barnabas, Devonport until 'retirement' to South Brent (Devon) from where he continues to be actively engaged in the promotion of 'New Way'. Catriona Robertson Catriona is a person of many parts. Actively involved in her local community through Anglican church, multi-faith networks, and social researching, she brings a wide breadth of view to the Team. She established the first New Way website and maintained it for some years. Alister Palmer Alister is ministry enabler in the Anglican Parish of Filwood Park, Knowle West, South Bristol. He became involved with the Small Christian Communities movement and liberation theology in the mid 1980s during his time in Heath Town, Wolverhampton. He served as ministry officer in the Diocese of Tasmania from 1998 to 2002 helping develop mutual ministry in remote rural communities. This is a self-sustaining way of being church that doesn’t rely on the presence of an 'imported' minister. He is currently interested in the development of a theology of liberation that embraces the whole of Creation believing that the gospel has all too often been applied far too narrowly. He is convinced that small church is beautiful and that a shift from larger centralised to smaller localised church communities is inevitable as enter the terminal phase of the cheap fossil fuel era. Stephen Rymer (Development Worker - part-time) Yet another engineer, this one worked with quarrying and mining machinery before becoming Co-ordinator of a ministry team in a Bristol parish. This led to a seven year period as Parishes Resource Officer for Bristol Diocese. From there he moved to Scargill House, a Christian Conference Centre, as a lay Chaplain and member of the Scargill Community in 1997. He joined New Way in February 2003. Our Consultants: Jeanne Hinton Is a founder member of the Post Green Community and has a deep commitment to community life. She is a story teller, compiler of stories and a writer. Her recent books are Changing Churches, and Changing Communities, both published by CTBI, Small Christian Communities Today, published by Orbis, and Church at the Edge, published by Kevin Mayhew. Dee Price Is mother of four grown up children, bishop's wife, and homemaker with a gift for hospitality and for creating community. Her ability to provide food and beds, at a moment's notice for whoever turns up to a New Way gathering is remarkable. She is a thoughtful, reflective leader of New Way workshops and retreats and source of deep intuitive wisdom among the team. Peter Price Peter is now Bishop of Bath and Wells. Along with Jeanne Hinton and the late Derek Hanscombe, he was one the founders of New Way in 1990 while general secretary of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He is author of several books Playing the Blue Note and Changing Churches being the most recent. His commitment to building community and to doing theology in the context of real life have been vital to the development of New Way and its publications. Our vision We have a big vision. We long for and dream of networks of small Christian communities committed to social justice and peace in their neighbourhoods working in partnership with the local church throughout these islands and beyond.
Home ... or click on the 'New Way' title at the top of the page

	© New Way of Being Church 2007