Meet the team

James has been Vicar of Histon and Priest in Charge of St Andrew's Church, Impington since 2006. Prior to moving to Histon he was a vicar in Acton and Director of Ordinands in the Willesden Area of the Diocese of London. He is passionate about mission and building congregations that can communicate the gospel in ways that engage with the issues of contemporary society. A research engineer by background, James is interested in cabinet-making, astronomy, the life and work of Isaac Newton, the England cricket team and all things to do with Apple computers. He has been described by the Bishop of Worcester as 'renaissance man'. James is married to Katharine and they have 2 children.

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Ruth moved to Cambridge in 2000 with her husband Andy and two children, and in the summer of 2020 she left a career of more than thirty years as a biology teacher to become Curate at St Andrew’s. Her desire is to see people become disciples of Jesus, to learn about God, and to live out the values of the kingdom.  She has a particular interest in how Christian’s should steward the Earth, and issues related to climate change. Her interests include music, theatre, cinema, and sewing, and she has made a number of stoles including one for her ordination. You may see her out walking with her dog, Pippin.

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Tim Blake is the full-time Children’s Worker for St Andrew’s. Tim trained as a PE teacher in Cheltenham, where he graduated with a BEd in Physical Education and then taught in a primary school in Harlow. Moving to Battersea he served as a Children’s, Youth and Schools’ worker for a church near Clapham Junction. After six fulfilling years there, Tim returned to Histon, accompanied by his wife, Helen, and their sons. Aside from his family and work, his other passion is mountain biking, although Histon is not the ideal place for this! Tim’s website and blog can be found at standrewshiston.org/kids/

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Rachel Carr is a Licensed Lay Minister at St Andrew's. She was formally a primary school teacher, before becoming a mum to two girls. She lives in Impington with her children and husband, Eddy. Rachel passionately believes that we are all part of God's story and enjoys running 'Essence' where this idea is explored. She also enjoys pastoral work and helping with Open the Book assemblies and children’s work at St Andrew’s, Impington. Her hobbies include walking long distances and photographing God’s beautiful creation.

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Nigel and his wife Louise have been part of St Andrew’s, Histon since 1995, and their three daughters all grew up in the villages. Nigel was licensed as a lay minister in 2019, and sees his role as encouraging/enabling everyone—not just those who identify with church—to see the relevance of God to everyday life. Professionally he is a conservation architect and runs a practice, Archangel, from the village. Much of his work involves helping church communities adjust their buildings to their communal life, and improve their sustainability, all expressions of practical theology. He is also a trustee of the Cogwheel Trust, providing affordable counselling in Cambridgeshire.

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Judith Adam was licensed as a Lay Minister to the Diocese of Ely (on Zoom) in November 2020. She moved to Histon with her husband George at the end of 2019, to be near to their son Joseph and family. Her Christian journey included church attendance as a child, and a commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly at the beginning of her university degree. She married George, a fellow student, and produced two children, Sarah and Joseph. They lived in Dry Drayton when their children were small and she taught herself guitar to enable singing at the playgroup there. When they moved to Knowle, Solihull, this led to much work with children under 8, both in schools as a volunteer, and in church groups, in UK, Malaysia and China, so she can also sing nursery rhymes in Malay! At 50, she learnt that she had inherited her family’s gene for deafness, which progresses fast, and in her case has also affected her balance. Combined, these disabilities prevent most work with children, so she decided to train as a Reader, and was licensed in the Birmingham Diocese in 2010. Her main focus has been on preaching and leading services, both in church and in care homes.

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Jo is married to Jon and they moved to the village in 2002. They have four children who have attended the village schools. Jo is very active in the village, was involved on the Ladybirds Play & Toddler Group Committee for 10 years, and used to be regularly found on the turnstiles at Histon Football Club. In 2004 Jo started Mini Musicians, a music group for 0-3yrs with their carers, which she handed over after 12 successful years. Previously she has been a recorder teacher and a mid-day supervisor and she continues to do some maths tutoring. Before coming to the village Jo did a maths degree at the University of St. Andrews and then a PGCE at Homerton College and was an infant teacher at Milton Primary School. Jo comes from a church background, the daughter of a minister and was an active member of Emmanuel URC in Cambridge, before she started worshipping at St. Andrew’s, Histon in May 2012.

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Rachel is married to Rob, who she met while at school. They moved to Histon in 2009 with their two children, and have attended St Andrew's ever since. Rachel has been involved in village life in a number of ways including a stint as Treasurer for Stepping Stones, and she is still enjoying voluntary roles in SJClub at the church and within Histon District Girlguiding. Pre-children, Rachel worked in education and has a degree in sociology, economics and social policy from the University of Exeter. She also has a diploma in proof reading—a skill she puts to good use in her current role as office administrator. Rachel spends most spare moments (and some not so spare!) with her nose in a book, unless she's re-watching The West Wing. She's always grateful for a nice cup of tea.

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I have lived in the village for 20 years and have worshipped at St Andrew’s, Histon for 16 years. I am married to Steve and have one son, Thomas, who has just completed his schooling at Impington International Sixth Form. I work as a Project Manager at the University of Cambridge. After being a member of the PCC on and off for many years, I have now taken on the role of churchwarden as we slowly emerge from a difficult period of uncertainty. We have all been changed to varying degrees by the pandemic and my vision is to support James, the staff team and the church as we slowly emerge from the pandemic and seek to provide a place of safety, welcome and faith in Jesus.

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