Who’s who at St James’s
REVD Ian Gallagher · Vicar
Born 1971, ordained 2008. Hails from a large Irish-American family, including an identical twin brother. Ian has a BMus and an MA in music; he was a lecturer in music history at Duke University, then emigrated to Germany in 1997 and worked internationally as a professional musician and stage performer. Ian became an Anglican, then worked as a pastoral assistant at St George’s Berlin in the Diocese in Europe. Before arriving in Enfield in 2014 as the eleventh vicar of St James’s, Ian served as interim rector of Christ the King in Frankfurt am Main and as team curate in Walton-on-the-Hill in Liverpool. He serves as a formational and placement supervisor for enquirers, postulants and ordinands from the Diocese in Europe. Ian loves languages, music, travelling, quiz evenings, and making soup.
REVD Henderson George · Associate Vicar
Born 1944, ordained 2007. Born and raised in Trinidad to Grenadian parents, Henderson came to Britain in 1967 and served both in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. As a schoolteacher he spent his career in East London and North London, including as a headteacher in Hackney and Bethnal Green, and lastly as Deputy Head at a primary school in Tottenham. Before coming to St James’s in 2012, he was a curate in Hackney and before ordination a Lay Reader in Poplar. At St James’s Henderson has a particular brief for pastoral work, and since 2016 also serves as Assistant Area Director of Ordinands. Married with two children and two grandchildren, Henderson also confesses to being a supporter of Liverpool FC.
REVD Kechinyere Onwuka · Assistant Curate
Born 1948, ordained 2017. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Kechi came to Britain in 1967. She studied as an accountant, receiving a BA in accountancy at Middlesex University. She worked in the private sector for twenty years, and subsequent-ly for local authorities in London. Kechi served as a Pentecostal pastor from 2000, leading the Jesus Ministries congregation in North London and working with deprived communities. She has been a member of the St James’s family since 2012. Kechi is married with five children and twelve grandchildren. Formerly an avid tennis player, she is a supporter of Arsenal FC.
Keith Harvey LLM · Licensed Lay Minister
Born 1959, licensed 2019. Born in Ponders End and has lived all his life in Enfield. He has been a part of St James’s since 1966 when he joined the cubs of the 1st Enfield Scout Group and is still a scout leader in Enfield. Keith served for many years as a Sunday School teacher at St James’s. His career has mainly been spent working for local government in the Highways Department. Keith has a wide range of musical tastes (from punk to Puccini!), is a member of a local darts team and an avid Arsenal FC supporter. His parents attend St James’ Church, Keith is the younger of two sons, and his elder brother is a Licensed Lay Minister in Hoddesdon. Keith married in 2015.
Iris Barber + Linda Fenwick · Churchwardens
Before their election as the churchwardens of St James’s in 2019, Iris and Linda have served the parish in a number of capacities—Iris lastly as parish treasurer and Linda as co-ordinator of St James’s social events ministry. Out of their initiative they founded and have been running together the parish's popular weekly Over 50s Fellowship Club, which has been going strong since 2017. Iris and Linda have also also instrumental in establishing Family Fun Days in church over the school holidays. Linda and Iris have long been passionate advocates for the mission of St James’s in our local community. The parish has reaped the benefits of Iris’s baking and plant propagating, not to mention Linda’s talent for creative activities and fundraising events.
David Andrews · Ordinand
Born 1985, candidate for Holy Orders since 2019. Born in Enfield and raised in Cheshunt. He studied War Studies at the University of Kent and received an MA in Youth and Community Work from the University of Northampton. He has worked in pastoral roles across three schools in the borough of Enfield and led youth work in Northampton and Enfield. David also holds a diploma in therapeutic counselling. He began ordination training at St Mellitus College in September 2019. David will also spend a year as a Chaplain Cadet with the British Army at the University of London Officer Training Corps. David enjoys the outdoors and has been an assistant leader at the 10th Enfield Sea Scouts since 2008.
Aleksandra Tomaszewska · Parish Administrator
Born 1996, appointed 2017. Aleksandra came to London as a university student, earning a BA in history at University College London with a specialism in church history, while working in two Camden parishes, then serving as a chaplaincy assistant at King’s College London. Aleksandra has also helped to establish a Polish-speaking Anglican community in Watford. She is pursuing an MPhil in Anglican studies at the University of Cambridge while also serving as Chapel Clerk at Lincoln’s Inn, one of the four Inns of Court in central London. She is also a postulant discerning a call to ordained ministry with the Diocese of London. Aleksandra enjoys in equal measure the company of cats and cups of tea.