St Mungo’s Staff

Malcolm Round is our Rector (senior minister) of St Mungo’s, and as such oversees all the activities of the church, though many are delegated to the staff team and to a wider leadership within the church. He also has a role in networking with local and national churches. Posted on 28 October 2009

Richard McArthur is our senior Associate Minister.  He is one of our main Bible teachers and also has a particular role in leading our outreach, including running our Alpha courses. He also takes a lead role in overseeing and developing our UK and World Mission partnerships. He was a vet many years ago and also has a background in student ministry. Posted on 28 October 2009

Andrew Bennett is our Associate Minister with responsibility for leading the work with children and young people under the age of 18. This includes the Sunday and midweek activities and weekends away for youth. He also leads assemblies at the local Primary school and works with the Scripture Union groups in Balerno schools Posted on 28 October 2009

Clare Gardner is our Director of Children’s Ministry.  Her role involves envisioning, managing and developing the children’s teams, writing material, providing training and co-leading the lower primary group. Midweek activities include the local SU group and a discipleship group for P6-7. Recently she has overseen the development of a group for children with additional needs and established Kidznet, a network support for local children’s leaders. Having  just completed a Diploma in Christian Counselling to complement her teaching qualifications she is responsible for beme, a counselling service for children and young people. Posted on 28 October 2009

Andrea Wigglesworth is our Director of Counselling and leads the “Life & Soul” service at the St Mungo’s Wellness Centre in Balerno. This service is open to the Church and the wider community. Andrea is a Certified Counsellor,  Clinical Supervisor,Imago Therapist and member of the Teaching Team. She also has a heart for mission and serves the wider Church in preaching and teaching at conferences. Posted on 28 October 2009

Derek Thomson is our Operations Director and has responsibility for buildings, administration, technology, communications, projects, charity governance, HR matters, oversight of finances and the general smooth running of church life. Derek is also Vestry Secretary. Infamous for prolific emailing and a man to avoid in case he coerces you into doing something, Derek has a background in business, which explains everything…! Posted on 28 October 2009

Lesley Penny is our Worship Director, one of the teaching team at St Mungo’s and oversees Cherished, our women’s ministry, along with Alison Wilson.  She also works part time as a Veterinary Surgeon and has a very useful PhD in cattle reproduction. Lesley is involved in CLAN Gathering, a large annual conference for churches across Scotland and her passion is working with other churches, especially those coming from a more traditional background, to help them develop their sung worship. Posted on 28 October 2009

Pat Banfill is our Pastoral Assistant whose role includes the identification of personal development needs and putting on courses and workshops to meet those needs, working with individuals, couples and families who are facing particular challenges or difficulties Posted on 28 October 2009

Bill Thompson is our full time Pastoral Worker who meets with men on a one to one basis and works with couples, too. He oversees our links with our Social Action partners, in particular Holy Trinity (Wester Hailes), and Bethany Christian Trust. He also leads the Men’s Ministry in St Mungo’s. Bill has other management responsibilities including Health and Safety and Disability. Posted on 28 October 2009

Ruth Smart is our Children’s Worker and works with Clare Gardner to oversee the Children’s ministry at St Mungos. She works primarily with the P4-7 age group writing material, developing ideas and supporting the leaders. She leads Shockwaves, the midweek discipleship group for P6&7s and the local SU group. Ruth organises extra events for this age group including a weekend camp and several parties. She also writes material for the 3&4 year olds & children with additional needs. Ruth is a trained Primary School teacher. Posted on 28 October 2009

Helen Crow is our youth worker (Mon, Thurs and Fri) working with Andy Bennett in overseeing the youth ministry at St Mungo’s, and is also involved in leading our young adult ministry.  She writes materials for cell groups, co ordinates our Friday night groups (nrg and ntb), leads the Balerno High School SU group, supports our leaders, is involved in the pastoral care of our young people and generally pitches in wherever necessary.  Her passion is to see young people reach their potential through; growing in their relationship with God, being stretched and developed in their gifts, and learning to be the people God has made them to be and is therefore happy to organise anything that will help them do so.  She also teaches in The Royal High 2 days a week. Posted on 28 October 2009

Katherine Burnett is our Finance Manager and responsible for managing the church’s money, supported by Ruth Smith and Alison Wilson. Katherine works on Mondays and Thursdays. Posted on 10 December 2009

Kate Yates works two days a week as the Rector’s Administrator, so she is in charge of all the bookings for the church, the administration of the services in Balerno High School, rotas, information distribution and will generally know the answer when no one else does!  She is also part of the team having oversight of the housegroups, and twice a week heads up the St Mungo’s group for babies/toddlers and their carers. Posted on 28 October 2009

Wendy Brown is our full-time Office Administration Manager. She shares her work between the youth and children’s ministries and general reception/admin duties. Posted on 28 October 2009

Sharan Collins is our Wellness Centre Manager and is responsible for the daily running of the Life & Soul Wellness Centre in Balerno. Sharan  helps to organise Study Days, Imago Couple Conferences and special Wellness Events  throughout the year. She also co-ordinates the Creche for Sunday services. Posted on 28 October 2009

Alison Wilson Alison is our Vestry Treasurer, supporting and advising us on matters of finance and financial governance. Alison also heads up the Women’s Ministry (Cherished) with Lesley Penny. Posted on 28 October 2009

Ruth Smith is our Book Keeper and can be seen in her counting house on Mondays and Thursdays. Posted on 10 December 2009

Mungos Mungo (our team mascot!) We adopted Mungo, a banded mongoose, after discovering we share the same name as his species! Posted on 6 November 2009