About

Do not despise small beginnings…

Our church began in 1978 when a small group of people gathered in a front room, longing for a church that reflected the early Christian community described in Acts. With no building, pastor, or resources, they launched a church rooted in faith and a desire to see lives transformed by Jesus.

Growth and buildings…

Over the years, the church experienced significant growth, moving through various venues—including various local schools—before purchasing and renovating the Kings Hall in 1994, all through remarkable sacrificial giving. This building became our permanent home, allowing us to expand our ministries and serve the community more effectively.

Moving online…

In the following decades, we continued to develop our facilities and outreach programs, reflecting our commitment to both local and global mission. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led us to adapt by moving services online, but our dedication to community and discipleship remained steadfast.

Looking ahead…

Today, Christ Central Church is a diverse and thriving community, passionate about loving God, loving people, and making disciples. We are part of the Regions Beyond family of churches, born out of Newfrontiers, sharing a vision to reach both our neighbourhood and the nations with the love of Jesus.

MAX EATON

Lead Elder

Max has served the church for many years in various roles including leading our worship team and preaching. He was appointed as Lead Elder and full-time pastor in February 2025. Max is passionate about Jesus, the church, and the local community. He is married to Tessa and is dad to Emmy, Jacob, and George.

BARRY TRIM

Elder

Barry was brought into Eldership in October 2022.  Barry serves in many areas of church life and is a great communicator of God’s word.  Barry is married to Tosin and is dad to Nathaniel & Simeon.

CHRIS SMITH

Elder

Chris Smith has a long history at Christ Central, he and his wife Rosie have been a huge blessing to this church for many many years.  Chris and Rosie have 5 children and 6 grandchildren

MICHELE SOLLEY

Administrator

Michele joined the admin team in 2013 and is always seeking to find ways to best serve the church and increase our effectiveness.  Michele is married to Matt and is mum to Lois and Elliot.

KEN KITSON

Finance

Ken does a fantastic job of taking care of our church accounts and finances. Ken is married to Paula and is dad to James and Aaliyah.

CHRIS HALL

Chair of Trustees

Chris has been a member of Christ Central Church since 2011 and became a Trustee in 2019. Chris and his wife Naomi serve in a number of ministries, with Naomi leading the kids work team. Chris is dad to Ethan, Mia and Neve and has lived in South East London all his life.

GEORGE STEELE

George grew up in Penge and has been a part of Christ Central Church from a young age, serving in various capacities over many years. Since becoming a trustee in 2017 George has remained an active part of church life in addition to co-leading a consultancy business in central London and enjoying family time with his wife and children.

MICHAEL WEBB

Trustee

Michael grew up in Manchester, and has lived in Penge since 2013; joining Christ Central shortly afterwards. He has served the church in several different capacities, most notably caring for our babies and toddlers in the creche on Sundays. Professionally, Michael runs campaigning activity for an animal welfare charity. He is married to Susanna, and they are parents to Eleanor, Hannah and Lydia, and enjoys sport and theatre in his (infrequent) spare time.

TOSIN TRIM

Trustee

Tosin was appointed as a Trustee in 2022 and also serves in our Young People’s ministry.  Tosin is married to Barry and is mum to Nathaniel and Simeon.

Christ Centred

At Christ Central Church, Jesus is the cornerstone of everything we do. He is not merely part of our story—He is the author and focus of it. Our identity, purpose, and hope are rooted in who He is and what He has done. We seek to follow Jesus in every area of life, lifting Him up in our preaching, worship, relationships, and mission. It is our joy and responsibility to make Him central in both our personal lives and our gathered community.

Devoted to Scripture

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, trustworthy and true, and our final authority in all matters of life and faith. We are committed to teaching it faithfully, studying it deeply, and applying it practically. Scripture shapes how we see the world, how we live, and how we grow. As a church, we want to be a people who don’t just know the Bible, but who are formed by it—daily, humbly, and joyfully.

Spirit Filled

We believe the Holy Spirit is active and present, empowering us to live lives that honour Jesus and extend His Kingdom. As a Spirit-filled church, we desire to walk daily in His presence, being led, filled, and equipped for every good work. The Spirit comforts, convicts, empowers, and unites us—giving gifts for ministry and fruit for character. We pursue a life that is not reliant on human strength but dependent on God’s power, seeking to be continually filled and guided by the Spirit in all we do.

Genuine Worship

Worship is the natural response of hearts awakened to God’s grace. It’s not just something we do on Sundays—it’s a lifestyle of honouring God with all that we are. Our corporate worship is passionate, Spirit-led, and rooted in truth, but it flows out into everyday life as we seek to glorify God in our work, relationships, and choices. We pursue worship that is not performative, but personal—expressing our love for God with honesty and reverence.

Devoted to Prayer

Prayer is the lifeblood of our relationship with God. We believe in a church culture where prayer isn’t an afterthought but a priority. Whether it’s gathered intercession, quiet devotion, or spontaneous cries to God, we are a people who seek His presence, His guidance, and His power through prayer. We depend on Him for all things and seek to cultivate a rhythm of both individual and communal prayer that aligns our hearts with His will.

Authentic Relationships

We were created for community. In a world of surface-level connection, we long to be a church marked by honesty, vulnerability, and grace. We don’t pretend to have it all together, and we don’t expect others to either. Through small groups, friendships, and shared life, we want to build a community where love is real, accountability is welcomed, and burdens are shared. The church should feel like family—a place to be known, loved, and encouraged.

Devoted to Discipleship

Jesus called us not just to believe in Him but to follow Him. Discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus in character, conviction, and conduct. We are committed to intentional, relational, and lifelong discipleship—helping each other grow through teaching, mentoring, and shared life. Whether someone is exploring faith or has walked with Christ for decades, we want to walk with them, helping each other mature into the fullness of Christ.

Committed to Mission

We exist not just for ourselves, but for the world. Christ Central Church is committed to proclaiming the gospel, serving the poor, and engaging culture with the love of Jesus. From our neighbourhoods to the nations, we are sent people—witnesses of the hope we’ve found in Christ. Every member is a missionary in their context, and as a church, we partner in church planting, local outreach, and global missions to see lives transformed by Jesus.

Generosity

We serve a generous God who gave His very best for us, and we want to reflect His heart in the way we give. Whether it’s our time, talents, finances, or hospitality—we give freely, not out of obligation, but out of worship and love. Generosity is a joy, a discipline, and a powerful testimony to a watching world. At Christ Central Church, we aim to be open-handed people, trusting that God always provides more than enough.