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Rev. Steve Davie
Steve and Cathy came to Horley in June 2004.
Before they arrived we asked them to complete a “Parish Profile”. All is now revealed!!! (well some of it)
Church attending and how long?... We have been involved with several churches over the years…… Steve grew up in an Anglican church, in a village in Kent.… When we became Christians as students in London, we visited many churches as students do and both went to St Paul’s Portman Square, near Oxford Street, now a conference centre, part of All Soul’s, Langham Place.… When we graduated, Cathy moved to Southampton and Above Bar Church (which is an independent FIEC Church) and Steve to St George’s Tron Church of Scotland in Glasgow, both city-centre churches.
We were married a year after graduation, Cathy moved to Glasgow and three years later our son, Phil was baptised in the ‘Tron’.
We then moved to Edinburgh to work with students for a mission called The Navigators. During that time we worshipped at Charlotte Baptist Chapel in the centre of the city and we were involved in Bible studies and evangelism with the church.… After three years we were asked to move lead the Navigator work in Southampton and chose to be involved at Above Bar when David Jackman was minister.
Six years on we moved to our local Anglican Church, Shirley Parish, and became involved with an informal family service, a church plant, house group, Cathy leading a cell group and Steve was a Churchwarden. It was from here that Steve went into the Anglican ministry (and Cathy started teaching)#
Steve’s job as a curate was in Christ Church, Luton, in Chatham, where he was also a member of Medway Methodist Circuit, often preaching ‘on the plan’ (ie going to another church in the Circuit to lead and preach on the Sunday ‘Plan’)
For the last seven years we have been in the twin Parishes of Cobham and Luddesdowne, near Gravesend in north Kent.… and soon we will in Horley, based at the wonderful St Bart’s…
What do you appreciate about your previous church? Cobham and Luddesdowne are a wonderful blend of old and new, traditional and modern. That is true of the services (we have a menu of both ‘BCP’ and very modern free services) and the people (many are very conservative in every sense, many others are very 24/7!) as well as the churches and village buildings. Steve has really enjoyed finding out about the history of both places and being a school governor. Cathy will really miss the warm fellowship and particularly the friendships built up through praying and studying together.
Jobs/position within church/parish/diocese? Cathy has really enjoyed leading ‘Praise Club’, for children on Sunday mornings. She has always been in a Bible study and fellowship group, and has led a group for young mums thinking about becoming Christians for the last couple of years.
Steve has been on a Diocesan group concerned with developing mission and evangelism ideas since we came to Rochester Diocese. He has also been on Diocesan Synod for most of that time and involved with a group of clergy undertaking post-graduate study.
Occupation (current or past)? We were both town planners in Scotland, until we joined The Navigators. Cathy trained as a teacher when Elizabeth was 6 and Phil was 9. She has worked in a number of primary schools in various capacities. Last September she started with Southwark Diocese, advising the 93 Church primary schools about RE and Collective Worship. She is really enjoying it!
Steve … is a heart surgeon!
Hobbies/interests/community involvement? We love walking, cycling, swimming, reading … Cathy likes creative things, currently making rather a lot of curtains for the new house, Steve enjoys historical research (which sounds really boring, but when he led a seminar on his research recently, several exclaimed ‘Now I understand why …!’)
What started you on your journey to faith in Christ? Having been brought up to go to church, Steve always thought he was a Christian until a student friend, Dave, asked him what it really meant. Dave had a better answer!
As a student Cathy wanted answers to some big questions. She saw a verse written on a hoarding: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. This propelled her to go to a church … and she has not looked back since!
Have there been any 'significant’ people or events in your journey? So many … Bernie spent many hours with Steve over three years discussing faith, reading the Bible, praying and learning verses together. Eric Alexander, Derek Prime, David Jackman are awesome preachers … Peter Irwin-Clark let Steve have a go, and shared his experience of the Spirit. So many Navigators spent so much time helping us to grow in our lives and ministry …
For Cathy … Once I began asking God for answers they came flooding in through people and circumstances, which were much more than coincidences. The best bit was we fell in love and we are still!
Do you have a motto or belief that inspires you? Steve: ‘And what you have heard from me, teach to faithful men, able to teach others also …’ (The Bible, 2 Timothy 2:2).... ‘Christian ministry is about getting people into the Word and the Spirit into people’ (who said that …?)
Cathy: ‘I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant and their faces are never covered with shame’ (The Bible, Psalm 34:4,5)
Favourite TV/radio programme? We enjoy the same things, but we can happily manage without them! A Touch of Frost, Morse (they are very human!), William and Mary, Monarch of the Glen, One Foot in the Grave.
What everyday item couldn't you live without? How did I live without books?......Earl Grey tea-bags.
What irritates you? Fools! (what does that say about my wisdom? Steve)....Mess (except in our studies)
What would you like to be remembered for? Grace … but there’s not much chance of that if I can’t stand fools!.....Helping people find a heart for God
What are the current issues in Christian and general life that concern you? Selfishness and cynicism generally.....Press speculation creating news where there is none.....The ‘blame culture’ (the need to put blame on people and events, rather than accepting that we live in an imperfect world.
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