Meet the Team

NICKI

Deacon

I moved to Rowhedge in 2011 with my husband Phil, because it seemed the perfect place to a family, with a great community spirit – and we were right! We now have two wonderful children, one of whom attends the village primary school, and I work for the parish council serving the residents in our community.
I first came to Mariner’s Chapel through attending the baby and toddler group and then progressed to attending services, where I found my faith and an amazing fellowship. I was baptised in 2013 and since then my life has been profoundly changed by the love of Jesus and by being part of His growing church here in Rowhedge.

HEATHER

Elder

I have been a member at Mariners since the early 1980’s, having moved to Rowhedge from London with my husband Joe. Rowhedge has been a fantastic environment to raise our family in and part of what adds to the richness of the village is the wonderful Mariners community! It has been such an important factor in the life of this village over the generations and to us as a family experiencing the fellowship, prayer and loving support that is found at Mariners – a wonderful testament of God’s love in action in this community.

About me:
When I’m not working, I love singing, trying to improve my guitar playing (mostly with little success), gardening, cooking and walking the woods and fields with Joe and the dogs!

Nathan Blackaby

Elder

Nathan knew about Jesus growing up in a Christian family but decided to follow Jesus Christ during a trip to Brazil on a church short mission trip in 2000.

In 2001 Nathan married Jennie and they both returned to Brazil; this time working in an orphanage and as missionaries with Latin Link. He also worked as a chaplain for Teen Challenge, a Christian drug rehabilitation centre in Recife, North East Brazil.

In 2011 Nathan & Jennie moved to Colchester, Essex, where Nathan pastored a church with Rural Ministries and worked as CVM (Christian Vision for Men) East Anglia coordinator.

In April 2014 they moved with their 3 young children to Derbyshire so Nathan could take up a full-time posting with CVM as their CEO.

Nathan loves gaming on his PS4, motorbikes, fast cars, ales and writing