Meet the Team

Senior Pastors

Ed & Michele Carter

Senior Pastors Ed and Michele Carter have an incredible heart and vision for helping people step into the amazing plans God has for their lives.

Answering a call from Psalm 78, they launched Valley Church in 2007 with a vision to empower a new generation. Ed and Michele firmly believe in the future of the local church, and its essential role in the community.

Ed is a strong leader and strategist with a gift in developing leadership potential in others. He is a dynamic speaker who communicates from the heart with energy. Michele loves people and has a passion for making church welcoming to everyone and a place people can call home.

Ed and Michele have been married for over 30 years and have three children, Jonathan, Thomas and Abigail. As a family they love food, adventurous holidays and skiing.

Ed & Michele Carter

Creative Pastors

Jack & Claire Pemberton

Committed to seeing people encounter Jesus in powerful ways and devoted to serving God’s Church in any way, shape or form!

Claire studied theology and was ordained at FM Conference in 2021. Claire is currently working as Executive Assistant at Valley Church, and Jack is living his dream as a music teacher in a local high school. Together they oversee all the creative ministries of Valley Church, including worship, production, comms, and events. 

Claire and Jack have been married since 2014. In 2019 they welcomed their son Colin into their family and he’s turning out to be just as creative as they are!

Jack & Claire Pemberton

Campus Pastors, South Preston

Phil & Eilis Banbury

Phil and Eilis are passionate about seeing lives transformed by Jesus and cheering people on along their journey!

Phil and Eilis, who met and then were married at Valley Church, are all about people! They love nothing more than having a table full of friends and family, playing games and having heaps of fun!

Their love of church and desire to see everyone find their ministry has seen them serving on nearly every team in church - from kids and youth to service team and people.

When he’s not working, Phil loves all things sports whereas Eilis, who is part of the staff team at Valley, prefers to spend time crafting, going to the beach or falling asleep whilst watching films! But most of all they enjoy being Mum and Dad to their little boy who like them loves spending time with people.

Phil & Eilis Banbury

Kids Pastor

Ste Fern

Ste is passionate about seeing children developing a real and active faith; rising up to take their place in their generation to make the Name of Jesus famous!

Since making Valley home, Ste has served in a variety of teams in Church life and is now bringing his gifts and experiences to leading our Kids Department. He works at a local secondary school teaching maths and he loves spending time with people. He has always been passionate about discipleship and helping people discover and develop their God-given gifts.

Ste Fern

Arise Youth Leaders

Alex Gutierrez and Joe Fullalove

Joe is a steadfast disciple of Jesus, he loves to spread the Gospel and help every individual have a deeper understanding of God’s everlasting love. Joe is currently studying Education at UCLAN.

Alex threw herself into church life two years ago after giving her life to Jesus. Her life was incredibly transformed and she is now dedicated to sharing her testimony and the truth of God’s Word. Alex is currently working as Administrative Assistant at Valley Church. 

Together, Alex and Joe lead the Arise age group (14-18 years) at Youth 78. Their goal is to build a community of young people who understand God’s love for them and are equipped and empowered to walk side by side with Jesus for their whole lives.

Alex Gutierrez and Joe Fullalove

Awake Youth Leader

Tabitha Halliwell

Tabitha Halliwell has called Valley Church home for many years and frequently blesses others with her gift of hospitality - she loves to open up her home, heart and family for people. Tabs brings her years of experience in youth work for the CofE Blackburn Diocese to help raise up the next generation of Christians in her local church. 

Tabitha is dedicated to serving young people and oversees Sunday Awake programmes, making sure they’re full of fun and great teaching for creating young disciples of Jesus. 

 

Tabitha Halliwell

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