About Us
Welcome to the Newcastle Central & East Circuit which came into being/existence in 2009 following the merger of the former Brunswick Central Circuit and Heaton and Wallsend circuit.
It is a compact circuit covering an area of approximately 20 square miles. It moves out from the city centre northwards covering a triangle to the north and east of the city taking in parts of North Tyneside.
There are currently 9 churches and five have ecumenical partners. They are Brunswick Methodist, Chinese Methodist, Church of the Good Shepherd LEP, Jesmond Methodist, St Andrew’s LEP, St Cuthbert’s LEP, St John the Evangelist LEP, Trinity Church Gosforth LEP and Trinity Church Wallsend.The Circuit is involved with a significant range of projects including Street Pastors, Changing Lives’ GAP project (working with sex workers), and engagement with the Christian Arts Community. In 2004 Newcastle was designated as one of the UK’s six Science Cities and has two major universities and HE colleges with approximately 90,000 students giving it a youth dynamic feel. The Circuit has its own community arts space known as Shieldfield Art Works whose programme includes high quality art exhibitions, events, and workshops.
Currently there are 7 ordained staff (of whom one is Anglican and one part-time and one URC). The team is strengthened by 10 layworkers, some of whom are part-time. The circuit has 7 supernumerary ministers, 4 of whom are active in preaching, and several local preachers.
The circuit offers a wide range of worship on Sundays and some mid-week services – please follow the links to the individual church websites to find out more.
Circuit Ministerial Staff
Rev Alison Wilkinson
Alison Wilkinson became Superintendent in 2024 and is Minister at Jesmond Methodist, Shieldfield Art Works and has oversight of the NPNP project in Shieldfield. Alison has over 20 years experience serving in Durham and Hartlepool before coming to Newcastle Central and East in 2016. Before ministry she was an RE teacher and trained RE teachers. She is passionate about preaching and growing the Church. She maintains academic interests in Discipleship, Leadership, and the early women preachers of Methodism. Alison is married to David also a Methodist Minister, who heads up ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leaders In an Age of Science) at St Johns college, Durham University. They have two children and one grandchild. Their son Adam is a Lay Pastor in the Circuit, married to Rachel and daughter Hannah, is the Youth Missioner in an Anglican church in Durham.
Rev. Paul Cleever-Thorpe
I joined the Circuit in 2017. I form part of the Ministry Team at Brunswick Methodist Church at the heart of Newcastle. City centre ministry brings huge opportunities to share the gospel, not least with those who come seeking friendship, a cuppa and a listening ear. I am also Minister of St. Cuthbert’s Church, a local ecumenical partnership in Heaton.
I have a passion for the World Church, spending five months with the United Methodist Church of South Africa in the mid-90s. In Newcastle I am greatly blessed to have pastoral charge of a second city centre congregation in the form of Newcastle Chinese Methodist Church. This is an exciting story of growth and of cross-cultural opportunities.
In my leisure time I enjoy playing badminton, golf, and walking our cockerpoo dog called 'Buster'!
Rev. Julie Mooney
Julie joined the Circuit in 2016 and is Team Vicar and Minister of the Church of the Good Shepherd, LEP, Battle Hill. She is thrilled to be part of such a modern church and received the warmest welcome at her Installation Service – this is the warm welcome that everyone receives at Good Shepherd because the congregation are so friendly and welcoming.
She is a born and bred Geordie lass – originally from Burradon then living mainly in Killingworth after marrying Mick. They have two grown up sons, Michael and David, who still live at the family home. In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, which is a good way to burn off the calories of her other interests – meals out and nights out with family & friends and going on holiday.
Prior to training for Ordination she worked in the Civil Service for many years (and this is where she met Mick). After 10 years of trying to resist the call to Ordination she studied Theology and Ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. Then in 2013, she was Ordained and appointed as Assistant Curate at Holy Cross Church, Fenham.
She considers ministry to be fantastic. It has its challenges but is also extremely rewarding, being a real privilege to be serving God and others in many varied ways. She feels truly blessed to be in Battle Hill and to be part of such a strong and supportive church family. She is hoping for many years of ministry there.
Rev. Alex Mabbs
I have been a minister in the United Reformed Church for over 25 years, working with Churches in London and Sussex. I love being outdoors, cycling or walking or just sitting in the woods staring at trees. I also enjoy playing music and dancing.
I am passionate about bringing the Bible to life for people and being part of a community that wants to make real and effective the good news of God's love in a bad news world.
Rev. Helen White
Helen has been a Methodist minister since 1998, having trained at Queen’s College, Birmingham. Since then she has worked with churches in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Derby, Leeds and Leicester. Apart from dipping back down for a year in Leicester she has been making steady progress north, and has now arrived in the North East.
She is married to Paula who is also a minister, working in the Sunderland Circuit. They have a beagle called Patch who’s very friendly, but his nose and desire for food often lead him into trouble!!
Helen took up paddleboarding a couple of years ago and is beginning to explore the rivers and lakes of the North East, and hopes to have a go at paddleboarding in the sea. Leeds and Leicester were too far from the sea to have tried that yet. She also enjoys walking, whether that’s walking the dog, or a longer hike on her own. Paired with that, she likes maps - and is delighted with an excuse to buy new OS maps covering the north east.
She is beginning to get to know the people of St Andrew’s Methodist/URC LEP, Benton, and Trinity Methodist, Wallsend and is looking forward to working with them over the next few years.
Deacon Gail Morgan
Gail was stationed to the circuit in 2015. She works with a presbyter and together they serve in Trinity Methodist Church, Wallsend. The church congregation, mainly folk in the second half of life, is a faithful fellowship offering a warm welcome to all. Gail is part of a team from across the churches in Wallsend who tell stories in primary schools using Open the Book, a Bible Society program.
Gail is part of the Ministry Team at Brunswick Methodist Church in the heart of Newcastle where being a welcoming presence and building relationships with anyone who walks into Brunswick is a key part of her ministry. Having conversations with people who enjoy hospitality in the coffee shop or listening and praying with people who are in a dark place is all part of every day at Brunswick. Being in the city centre offers huge opportunities to work in partnership with other city centre churches and other agencies to offer the good news of Jesus.
Gail also has oversight of the circuit's project, Hand in Hand, a club based in Wallsend and High Heaton where conversation, friendship and lunch helps to alleviate loneliness for those over 60.
She feels being a deacon is amazing and each day is a blessing. She loves building relationships with people and is passionate about seeing Jesus change and transform people's lives. Gail believes the church is being challenged to be more relevant, accessible and a place where everyone feels welcome. With this in mind Gail seeks to find ways of enabling this to happen through working alongside others to develop mission.
As a deacon Gail is part of the Methodist Diaconal Order a dispersed community who commit to live by a rule of life. This rhythm of prayer, reading the Bible, work and relaxation is life-giving for Gail.
Gail loves walking, cooking and sharing what she cooks with friends, wild swimming, holidays in the Scottish Islands and spending time with her beloved family.
Deacon Jill Henderson
I joined the circuit in September 2024, thrilled to be part of a mission focussed circuit with a heart for Jesus. I moved with my husband Neil. We have been made to feel so welcome and already feel at home in the NE, despite being so far away from our growing family ( 3 grandchildren in the last 14 months)
I trained at Queen’s College, Birmingham and then served in the city of Hull with no church but a brief to work amongst the poor, politicians and party goers of the city. It was a privilege to build relationships with some of the most broken, outcast people of society, witnessing lives being touched and transformed by the love of Jesus.
I then served in the Cheshire South Circuit, based in Crewe and Nantwich for 6 years.
I am thrilled to serve St John the Evangelist, Kingston Park and Trinity, Gosforth; both large LEP churches with so much potential for spiritual and physical growth and building bridges into the community.
