Our Team

CHRIS JONES, VICAR

In November 2021 Chris became our Vicar. However, Chris originally joined Saint Laurence in September 2017 to work with the team in shaping and growing the church through its mission.

Chris is married to Becky, who was part of the team that left Soul Survivor Watford to join the Russells in 2001; they have three children, Ollie, Jasmine and Levison, and a bouncy cockapoo called Banksy.

Office availability: Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu

MEGAN SAWYERS, YOUTH WORKER

Megan is our Youth Worker and joined St Laurence in July 2018. She grew up by the seaside in Southampton and before moving up to Reading, studied English Language and Linguistics at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. 

Megan then spent a year as the Youth Intern at St Barnabas Church, and has since worked as a coach for Resurgo Spear, an employability and personal development programme for disadvantaged young people in London.

Office availability: Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu

GOVERNANCE

The church has a leadership team consisting of Chris and Becky Jones, Lee Smith and Naomi Brown. The vicar shares responsibility for the running of the church with the churchwardens.

Saint Laurence is part of the Church of England and we elect representatives from the Electoral Roll to become trustees and members of our PCC. The PCC and standing committee hold responsibility for the church's finances, and staffing and make key operational decisions. Essentially, the PCC are members of our church who help to ensure that we continue to serve the community and enable the leadership to serve our mission.

The PCC delegates responsibility for the upkeep of the building to the Fabric Team. There is a Pastoral team, Services Team, Youth Service (FUEL) Team and Children’s Work Team.

To join the Saint Laurence electoral roll you need to have attended the church for more than six months. If you are interested in joining the Electoral Roll, please email us.