Rev Paul Braisdell

Paul writes

I was born in a small village just outside Wrexham, North Wales and grew up under the shadow of the Brymbo Steelworks, attending the local Methodist Chapel which was a similar sized building to Ashby Wesley but with a much smaller congregation.

 started my working life as a chef, working in the Wrexham hospitals and then for 20 years in an Elderly People's Home. Having been a Local Preacher for many years it was in 2005 that I responded to God's call to train as a full time minister in the Methodist Church. After 2 years study at Wesley College, Bristol I was appointed to serve in the Chester circuit in 2008 and was ordained Iin Bognor Regis on a very hot July day in 2010. Since 2015 I have been here in Scunthorpe and I am certain that God brought me to Ashby Wesley at the right time in my ministry.

Our journey in faith together has been an interesting and challenging one over the last 8 years, with events and changes that none of us could have predicted. As we become part of a larger Methodist Circuit I also look after churches in Yaddlethorpe, Messingham, Scotter, Laughton, Gainsborough, Upton and Lea. Over the coming years we will work together as we seek to serve Christ and make Him known in the community surrounding Ashby Wesley and through our Zoom services on a Sunday.

I am married to Bronwen (who is a Local Preacher) and living with us at the manse is our now very old black Labrador, Freya; you will see us out and about with her in Ashby. Our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren live in Dronfield and our daughter and son-in-law near Cambridge, so it is good to all be on this side of the country.

With my background in catering I see church as somewhere that should be welcoming to everybody and I believe that good hospitality is important in the life of the church. Jesus welcomed everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest sinner, and the church today should be no different. I pray that in Ashby Wesley you will find a welcome and through our work, worship and prayer you will be enabled to meet with Jesus.