There are five areas of leadership within Christ Church Thornton:

Church Leader – Leading the worship, ministry, mission and pastoral care of the Church
Church Ministry Team – Ministers who lead the Worship, preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and care for the Flock
Church Management Team – Managing the day to day functioning of staff, activities and buildings
Church Leadership Team – Delivering the strategic and financial decisions to achieve the overall vision (functioning as the Standing Committee of the PCC)
Parochial Church Council Team – Providing vision, financial oversight and meeting legal and financial obligations – together they function as the charity trustees

Church Leader

Since 2015 Damian has been the vicar (sometimes referred to as ‘the incumbent’) of Christ Church Thornton. All of Damian’s ministry has been in the Diocese of Blackburn! Damian is married to Lauren, who leads the children and families ministry at Christ Church Thornton. They have two children, Harry and Ruby.

Damian has been in various forms of full-time Christian ministry and in-ministry training for 25 years. It all started with a diocesan gap year in youth ministry at St. Thomas’ Blackpool at aged 18 which was followed by a BA Hons in Youth Ministry and Theology. Nine years later Damian embarked on three wonderful years studying theology at Oak Hill College London, leaving with a BA Hons in Theological and Pastoral Studies. Damian was ordained deacon in 2012 and priest in 2013. A hugely formative curacy along with further studies (Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Theology) were spent at Bispham All Hallows in Blackpool before being called to minister at Christ Church Thornton.

Church Ministry Team

We have a Church Ministry Team of ordained ministers who lead the Worship, preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and care for the Flock.

The Reverend Damian Platt (Incumbent Minister with the Bishop’s License)
The Reverend Peter Nunn (Minister with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate)
The Reverend Paul Clemence (Minister with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate)
The Reverend Chris Fallone (Minister with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate)
The Reverend Derek Walmsley (Minister with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate)

Church Management Team

The Church Management Team see to the day-to-day care of the buildings, fabric, administration and functions of Christ Church.

Judith Murphy (Churchwarden)
John Hearnshaw (Churchwarden)
Denise Taylor (Finance Assistant / PA to the Vicar)
Damian Platt (Vicar)

Church Leadership Team

The Church Leadership Team deliver the strategic and financial decisions to achieve the overall vision.

Damian Platt (Vicar)
Judith Murphy (Churchwarden)
John Hearnshaw (Churchwarden)
Sally Johnson (PCC Secretary)
David Taylor (Safeguarding Officer)
Angie Walsh (Treasurer)
Malcolm Beard

Parochial Church Council

The Church Leader, Church Management Team and Church Leadership Team, consult together with the Parochial Church Council on matters of general concern and importance to the parish. The first function of the Parochial Church Council (often known as the ‘PCC’) is co-operation with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC at Christ Church focus on the ‘big picture’ of the life and direction of the Church, prayerfully seeking God’s strategic direction in all matters. A summary of the duties, functions and responsibilities of PCCs can be accessed here.

PCCs are governed by two legislative Measures:

Here is a list of the current members of the Parochial Church Council:

Ex-officio

Reverend Damian Platt* (Vicar / Chairman)
Judith Murphy* (Churchwarden / Vice-Chair)
John Hearnshaw* (Churchwarden)
Deanery Synod

Deanery Synod (3 places due to Electoral Roll being between 101 and 200)

Sally Johnson* (term ending APCM 2026)
Ann Hearnshaw (term ending APCM 2026)
Roger Lloyd Jones (term ending APCM 2026)

Elected Parochial Representatives of the Laity (12 places due to Electoral Roll being between 100 and 199)

Paul Casson (term ending APCM 2026)
Sandra Barrow (term ending APCM 2026)
Dorothy Fiefield (term ending APCM 2026)
Mick Golden (term ending APCM 2026)
Angie Walsh (term ending APCM 2027)
Pauline Elvidge (term ending APCM 2027)
Abigail Mackie (term ending APCM 2027)
Donna Urmson (term ending APCM 2027)
Malcolm Beard* (term ending APCM 2028)
Philip Butterworth (term ending APCM 2028)
Maria Winter (term ending APCM 2028)
David Taylor* (term ending APCM 2028)

Co-opted (up to 2)

Vacant (term ending APCM 2026)
Vacant (term ending APCM 2026)

*Denotes members of the Standing Committee

You are welcome to contact any of the above members of the Parochial Church Council.

In addition, there are many Church Officers carrying out important ecclesiastical, legal and financial duties.

Churchwarden – Judith Murphy
Churchwarden – John Hearnshaw
PCC Officer (Secretary) – Sally Johnson
Finance Officer (Treasurer) – Angie Walsh
Electoral Roll Officer – Sally Johnson
Gift Aid Officer – Dot Fiefield
Parish Safeguarding Officer – David Taylor
Children and Families Officer – Lauren Platt
Data Protection Officer – Sally Johnson
Health and Safety Consultant – Robert Wareing

Serving the church family and parish through worship services, pastoral care, activities, administration, hospitality, finance and maintenance are four teams of people:

Operations Team

The Parish of Christ Church is greatly assisted by a dedicated team of paid and voluntary roles. Each day, volunteers give so much of their time and talents to the ministry and mission of the Church. Specific and specialist roles are fulfilled by our committed staff team. Please make contact to find out more about volunteer portfolios and staff roles.

Pastoral Team

Margaret Ralph (Almoner, Mothers’ Union)
Elizabeth Young (Branch Leader, Mothers’ Union)
Angela Roberts (Authorised Lay Minister)
Dawn Bradbury (Authorised Lay Minister)

Finance Team

Angie Walsh (Chair)
Denise Taylor
Dot Fiefield

Maintenance Team

John Hearnshaw (Chair)
Ron Coleman
Roy Brown
Mick Golden
Alan Dale