Who's Who
A little bit about some of our members
Reverend Simon Atkinson
Simon has been our pastor since September 2006 having moved from Long Whatton in Leicestershire with his family. Before coming into ministry he worked as a Practice Manager for a local Doctors surgery for 5 years and as a Branch Manager for 13 years with W H Smiths.
As well as leading the church he is the Chaplain to Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club and as a Chaplain he is a member of Sports Chaplaincy UK.
Tricia Hill
Tricia Hill - Church Administrator - Trustee
Tricia became a Christian in her teens and was confirmed at her local church - Christ Church in Coventry by the Bishop of Coventry. At this church she was involved in the Campaigners, a uniformed inter- denominational Christian youth organisation, where all leaders are Christians.
Following a career in the WRNS - initially as a driver, she progressed through the ranks to finish her career in administration, undertaking a wide variety of senior management roles.
Tricia started attending Brixington Community Church in 2008 and began assisting on the administration team in 2012. She was accepted into church membership in 2013 and became Church Administrator in 2014.
Geraint Hughes
Geraint Hughes - Church Treasurer - Trustee
Following a long career as a Librarian and Senior Manager in Devon's Public Libraries and School Library Service, Geraint is now bringing his experience to being our Church Treasurer. He works with a small team and is responsible for ensuring that the church's finances are stewarded well on behalf of the fellowship including accounts, banking, investments and assistance with fundraising.
He and his wife Katie have been members at Brixington since they arrived with their young family in 1991.
Debby Goodwin
Debby Goodwin - Trustee
I came to Brixington Community Church around 2009.
I was invited to attend an Alpha Course which I did and started to attend church on a Sunday morning. I was Baptised here at Brixington Community Church in 2013.
During the last few years, I have gone from making coffee and tea to helping at family events and supporting the team at Messy Church and Shine After School Club. I also assist in running stalls at craft fairs to raise funds for the Church Building Fund. Occasionally I help with the school assemblies
I am a qualified chef and enjoy making cakes - from wedding cakes to cupcakes and everything in between. In my spare time I also enjoy gardening and DIY projects.
Jill Clark
Jill Clark - Safeguarding and Pastoral Trustee
Jill is a retired teacher of Physical Education. During her 40 year career she worked with both able and disabled young people, helping them to lead challenging and accomplished lives to the best of their abilities. Safeguarding training formed part of her professional life.
She has two sons and two grandchildren and has been a member of Brixington Community Church since 1995. Jill has been involved with pastoral care throughout her membership, both leading and working within teams.
Her interests are various; Christian dance fellowship of GB, reader for the Exmouth TN for blind listeners, gardening, hill walking, Pilates and snow skiing.
Maria Carvalho
Maria Carvalho - Trustee
I am Portuguese and was born in Mozambique, Africa.
In 1970 I qualified as a Red Cross Nurse and as a Company Secretary.
I was married to Tony in 1975 and we immigrated (fled) to Rhodesia.
I became a Christian in 1985, and my walk with the Lord went from strength to strength. I served the church as a Sunday School Teacher, then in 1997 I did Mission and Humanitarian work becoming the Southern African Mission's President of the Church of the Nazarene in Harare, where my love for mission solidified.
At the same time, I graduated from a Bible School called "Bible Study Fellowship" where I was trained as Class Administrator, Discussion Leader and Children's Leaders Supervisor.
I came to London in 1988 and moved to Exmouth at the end of 2004. Where I joined Brixington Community Church (BCC) in 2005.
In 2011 I became involved with the Life2Romania charity and have been doing mission work since then. This has included launching and co-ordinating the Shoebox project which continues to grow each year.
I became a Trustee in November 2018 and have a particular responsibility for Hospitality.
Norman Fryer-Saxby
Norman Fryer-Saxby - Elder
It was at a Boys Brigade camp in 1960, listening to Isaiah 53 being read that I realised I needed Jesus to be my Saviour and Lord. Baptised in 1963 at the age of sixteen, I have been blessed to be part of four Baptist Churches since then, before moving to Exmouth and Brixington Community Church in 2019. I have been able to serve the Lord and His people in many different ways including becoming a Deacon, Secretary and Elder.
My career was in the bus and coach industry, first in engineering design and manufacture, then several senior management posts in operations and business management. I have been able to voluntarily serve the wider community in Berkshire, as a magistrate for thirty-one years.
Val and I married in 1970 and have one son, three daughters and, soon to be, six grandchildren.
As a family we have been recipients of God's grace and blessed enormously. During some really difficult times our testimony is that 'the joy of the Lord has been our strength'.
Christine Littlejohn
Christine Littlejohn - Trustee
Bradley Goodwin
Bradley Goodwin - Youth & Children's Worker
Bradley became a Christian at the age of 12 and was baptised on his 16th birthday here at Brixington Community Church back in May 2013. Since then, Bradley has had a couple of different jobs including working at CTCRM, Lympstone and The Range, Exmouth working in the office and customer services. After leaving The Range in 2018 Bradley decided with the blessing of the Church, to join Southwest Youth Ministries (SWYM).
Bradley spent two years at SWYM studying Applied Theology and Leadership Theology. After finishing his two years of study with SWYM in July 2020, Bradley was asked by the Church to join the team as their Youth and Children’s Worker where he has over come challenges and continued to grow the children's work here at Brixington Community Church
Kay Atkinson
Kay Atkinson - Family Support Worker
Kay has over twenty years of experience of working in family support in East Devon and Exeter. She has lived in Exmouth all her life, so has a good working local knowledge and knows a lot of people in this area. She has managed and run the Holy Trinity 0-5 Group for over 23 years. Being a mother herself she has experience of her own children as well as being a qualified under seven Practitioner, Nanny and she holds qualifications in Childhood Studies.
Kay has set up and run the Brix Family Support which provides support for people in difficulties in their own homes. She has also set up and established a Parent Pop In group on a Thursday with a brilliant team. Additionally she is involved in running Parentalk courses (Care for the Family), Messy Church, Family Fun days/picnics along with other regular events.