Vicar
Revd Emma Jane Wilkinson
Revd Emma-Jane Wilkinson was born and brought up in Billericay in Essex, both her parents having been born and raised in Potters Bar. She attended the Baptist Church and was a keen member of the Girls Brigade – much to her mother’s horror as she was a life-long guider. Always knowing that she wanted to teach, after A Levels, Emma went to Bishop Grosseteste College in Lincoln to study for four years and for the next 38 years she taught in four different schools, for 17 years of which she was the headteacher of two Church Aided primary schools.
Having been fully involved in all the churches she attended being a worship leader, Sunday school teacher, church warden, Messy Church organiser, PCC member and the list goes on, in 2018 she felt God was telling her to do the St Albans Diocese Seeking the Way Course and this led, to seven years of discernment, training and curacy which has brought her to being the vicar of King Charles the Martyr now. To her, it feels like coming home, or as a member of her family put it, the dove returning to the nest, as Potters Bar is where her family’s roots are and she is excited to see what God is going to do here in the coming months and years.
Emma is passionate about spreading the good news of God’s love with all and enjoys doing life with people of all ages. She has had a wide experience of churchmanship and is as happy in a charismatic worship service as a high church mass, as she feels that all forms of worship in their own way bring us closer to God and strengthen us for our life’s journey.
Emma loves cats, cooking, entertaining, playing the piano, listening to people’s stories, black coffee, red wine and gin!
Licensed Lay Minister
Prof David Thomson
Professor David Thomson qualified as an Optometrist in 1980 and following a brief spell working in Portsmouth he enrolled for a Phd to study the effects of viewing computer screens on the eyes. He was awarded a Phd in 1985 and following a three year period as a post-doctorate student investigating visual function in patients with brain damage, he was appointed to the academic staff in the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at City University. He was awarded a chair in 2002 and served as Head of Department and Associate Dean.
After nearly 30 years in post he decided to leave the University to pursue various other interests including developing software for vision testing and screening. He now runs two small software businesses based in Welham Green but still lectures widely in the UK and overseas.
He has been a member of KCM church since 1988 and was a regular member of the music group. He studied to become a Licensed Lay Minister with the ERMC and was licensed in 2015. He regularly leads worship and preaches. He has been part of the management team for the KCM Community Café for eight years and has recently introduced Café Church.
He is married to Dr Penny Thomson and they have five grown up children and six grandchildren (so far). In what little spare time he has, he is to be found cycling, walking coastal paths in Dorset or on the golf course.
Church Warden
Phil Townsend
Director of Music
Simon Worley
Nikki Edwards
Halls Administrator
Imogen St Pierre
Church and Halls Administrator
Parochial Church Council Membership
Gary Dakin
David Driscoll
Elaine Hartland
Lynn Jones
Steve Jones
Honorary Treasurer
Debbie Reed
Helen Schmitz
Parish Safeguarding Officer
John Schmitz
Barnet Deanery Synod member
Bill Simpson
Church Warden and Lay Chair
David Thomson
Licensed Lay Minister
Nicola Thrussel
PCC Secretary
Maureen Townsend
Electoral Roll Officer
Phil Townsend
Church Warden