Church Leadership & Staff

The church is led by our four elders: Andy (our full-time pastor), Tim, Tony and Dave. The church is served by a team of eight deacons (Ben, Simon, Andy, Steve, Andy, Matt, and Gareth) and supported by two other members of staff: Jill and Anthea (Ladies’ Workers).

Andy Christofides (Pastor)

Dr Andy Christofides took up the call to be our minister on 11 September 2000, succeeding the Rev. Russell Williams who had ministered between 1965 and 1998.

Born in 1957 near the famous footballing town of Burnley, Lancashire, Andy studied for his degree and doctorate in Chemistry at Cardiff University from 1975 to 1982. He was converted from atheism in the summer of 1976 during a summer vacation to Australia that changed his life forever.

Having worked in London as a Chemist from 1982, Andy returned to Cardiff in 1987 to work for Heath Evangelical Church as their International Student Worker, a Youth Leader and latterly as church Evangelist.

Andy is married to Jill and together they have 4 children; Ben (1983), Rachel (1985), Bethan (1989) and William (1995).

Tim Curnow (Elder)

Tim is a native of Penzance, Cornwall, where he grew up and was converted in the Baptist church. Tim has served the Lord in churches in London, Hemel Hempstead and Cardiff over the past 20 years. He is currently a Senior Project Worker in a homeless hostel run by the Salvation Army in Cardiff. He is married to Gill and they have three children, Rhys (1989), Huw (1990) and Bronwen (1994). Gill hails from the Rhondda Valley and works as a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) in a school in Butetown, Cardiff.

In his spare time Tim spent six years as managing editor of Grace Magazine. Until recently he was also Joint Managing Editor of Grace Publications Trust, publishing a wide variety of books, including simplified Christian Classics.

Tony Rees (Elder)

Bio to follow…

Dave Williams (Elder)

Dave was converted during his first year at Bristol University, through the ministry of Navigators. He’s been a member of St Mellons Baptist Church since 1978, and during the whole of that period has worked for the same Cardiff-based firm of Chartered Accountants. He has spent most of his time in St Mellons supporting the church’s youth work, but recently has been more involved in the wider oversight of the church.

Dave is married to Jane, and has three grown-up children: Mark, Rebecca and Robbie.

Jill Christofides (Ladies’ Worker)

Born and brought up near Skipton in Yorkshire, Jill was converted in her early teens. She trained as a nursery nurse, then as a nurse; Jill also has had experience in pupil support.  As the Pastor’s wife she is actively involved in all areas of the life of the church.

Anthea Shaw (Ladies’ Worker)

Anthea has been a member of St Mellons since 1973, and was appointed as Ladies’ Worker in 2005 after retiring as a special needs teacher. She was brought up in a Christian family in Swansea, and converted at a Scripture Union camp when she was 13. With Jill, Anthea is responsible for visiting, encouraging and counselling the ladies in the church, and also leads group and one-to-one Bible Studies, and takes responsibility for the ladies’ meetings.