The Reference Board...

The Reference Board of The Good BookStall is chaired by Aude Pasquier and the members are Guy Marshall, Aude Pasquier, George Taylor, Guy Taylor, Mike Topliss, Carole Burrows (Secretary) Melanie Caroll (Newsletter Editor & Marketing Manager) John Shepherd OBE FCA (Treasurer) and Mary Bartholomew (Editor/Site Manager). Martin Brasier (Melchior Telematics) our website designer, also attends as technical adviser.

Aude Pasquier is currently Sales & Marketing Director of Darton, Longman & Todd. Aude by name and odd by nature she left her native Normandy many years ago and is now a self-confessed Anglophile, very much to her parents' dismay. After a few years on a sharp learning curve with Mowbray's in Cambridge, Aude became manager of the SPCK Bookshop in York in 1994. In 1997 she became manager of the SPCK Bookshop in London. Aude lives in London and enjoys every minute of it especially on her bike, weather permitting. Aude loves books, loves talking about books and loves selling books. She now enjoys selling them to other booksellers hoping to share with them some of her enthusiasm.

George Taylor spent his working life in publishing; academic, general, children's and religious. After several years working in various departments at the Oxford University Press London Office he moved to Faber and Faber as Marketing Manager in 1974. He later joined the Board and became the Sales and Marketing Director before leaving to join Franklin Watts, the specialist children's publisher in 1984. He was invited to rejoin OUP in 1988 as as the UK Sales Director for the academic Division and finished his 30 years at OUP responsible for their international sales. The opportunity to join SPCK as Sales and Marketing Director in 1998 gave him the chance to see a further publishing aspect and an enjoyable five years until he retired early in 2003.

George loves football, giving regular support to Charlton Athletic, cricket; he is a long standing member of MCC, the theatre and of course good reading. He passionately believes that books are a vital ingredient to a full life and that any kind of reading is to be encouraged. To help TGBS provide good, unprejudiced advice on the best religious books available is a privilege.

Guy Taylor is a much respected member of the Christian Book Trade having worked for various Christian Publishers, at many levels, covering an area from the north of Scotland to the south coast of England and Ireland. Guy formed his own company (A. Guy Taylor Limited.) and employed a small rep. force which was very successful over a number of years. In 1964 Guy Taylor followed a suggestion given to him by Peter Nicholson (then Precentor at Peterborough Cathedral) for an inter-Cathedral Bookstalls Newsletter as a means of exchanging useful information. In 1968 he met John Mortimer at a church bookstall managers conference. John asked Guy if all church bookstall managers could receive the letter, previously only sent to Cathedrals, and so A Bookstalls Newsletter grew from one letter to a circulation of 4000 encompassing the whole of the Christian Book trade. On Guy's retirement he approached Paul Chandler, then General Secretary of SPCK and The Good BookStall website was born.

Guy Marshall is manager of the Quench Bookshop in St Albans, (see www.quenchshops.com). He was a member of the CBC (Christian Booksellers Convention) Board, he is on the committee of the BA-CBG (Booksellers Association - Christian Booksellers Group) and is a Panel member of Speaking Volumes (Christian Book Promotion Trust). He enjoys reading and working on his allotment. Guy is married to Glenis who is a childminder and they have two sons, now both in their twenties. He was a leader in the St Albans Crusader group and also finds time to run a Cub Scout pack.

Mike Topliss (a retired RE teacher) is Ecumenical Officer for Staffordshire and for the Black Country. He is a local preacher, with sermons published in the 4th, 5th and 6th Times Book of Best Sermons. The bookstall in his local Methodist Church in Bloxwich has been his pride and joy for over 30 years.

Mary Bartholomew (Editor/Site Manager) worked for SPCK Bookshops in Chichester and Carlisle. During the years she managed the Carlisle bookshop she recorded book reviews for Radio Cumbria's Sunday morning programme. This she continues to do, in retirement with her husband in Herefordshire, where she has also done occasional recordings of reviews for BBC Hereford and Worcester' Sunday morning programme. A compulsive reader, bell-ringer for over fifty years and keen gardener, she is a mother of four and grandmother of five.

John Shepherd OBE FCA (Treasurer) is a Chartered Accountant. A retired Public Company Finance Director with extensive experience in the manufacturing industry, he is also a committed Christian, a chorister for over 50 years, an ex-Church Warden, Sacristan, Crucifer and is licensed for Holy Communion. Also, a PCC member, Gift Aid Secretary/Treasurer, and an ex-Diocesan Board of Finance Member.
He was awarded OBE for services to the severely disabled in December 1998.

Melanie Carroll (Newsletter Editor, Marketing Manager) is owner of Unicorn Tree Books, an independent bookshop in Lincoln. Before SPCK Bookshops changed ownership she managed a few SPCK Bookshops and was their e-commerce manager. She is also the Religious and Philosophy Previewer for Publishing News.

Before retailing books she was a Residential Youth Retreat Worker for the Catholic Diocese of Westminster. She studied Theology at undergraduate and post-graduate degree level at Heythrop College, University of London and also holds Diplomas in the fields of Performance Coaching (Business) and Life Coaching, and has an Advanced Certificate in Telematics.

Single and committed to serving God, Melanie, an avowed nethead and gadget geek, spends her downtime in creative pursuits involving paper and actively feeding her passion for the written word in any form, along with enjoying a second childhood with her niece most weekends - after all they both love DVDs, gameboys, computers, colours, books, hiking & camping!

Carole Burrows (Secretary) has spent most of her working life dealing with books, first as a Chartered Librarian working in public, academic and industrial libraries, then in 1982 taking the step of opening her own bookshop in Cumbria, which she ran for nine years. In 1994 she moved to Lincoln to become Manager of the SPCK shop there which included the SPCK Mail Order Department, later the SPCK Online Fulfillment House. In 2001 she moved to Durham to manage the SPCK Bookshop in Durham Cathedral. She is now enjoying retirement and the opportunity to spend more time reading, walking and gardening, plus relieving her husband of cooking duties, about which he is most relieved! She is an Anglican and worships at Durham Cathedral.

Current Reviewers...

Barbara Andrew attends St Margaret of Antioch,Anglican Church at Wellington, Herefordshire with her husband. She is a retired Librarian and Christian Bookshop Assistant and helps with the Leominster Deanery Library.

Rev'd C. Mary Austin is Superintendent of the Kidderminster & Stourport Circuit in the West Midlands. She is the author of an Epworth title now out of print, on the illness and death of her six year old son in 1987, and contributed to another on the subject of Dementia, using knowledge gained while a hospital chaplain. She contributes occasionally to WM's Sunday morning programme, including reflections on the week's news. With a husband, two grown up daughters and twin grandchildren, she still finds time to read widely.

Mary Bartholomew (Editor/Site Manager- see above.)

Rev'd Paddy Beresford is Associate Minister of St Paul's Church in Weston-super-Mare responsible for Pastoral Care. He has been a pastor for 30 years and has an international ministry with particular interests in Pastoral Care in churches, the relationship between secular and Christian counselling and evangelism amongst Jewish people. He is married to Ann and they have two daughters.

Kathy Bland and her husband and three sons attend Leominster Priory church where they run the summer Holiday Club among other things.

Martin Brasier (Melchior Telematics) has been involved in church music and worship for over three decades. During that time, he has been a 'traditional' organist, a worship band leader, and various shades in-between. He likes to draw on the best of all genres, old and new, from near and far, and has fairly strong liturgical leanings (for a Baptist). He plays organ, other keyboards, electric guitar and bass (not at the same time, but sometimes in the same service). He currently rejoices in the grand title of Musical Director of Beeston Baptist Church,  Nottingham.

Carole Burrows (Reference Board member - see above)

Melanie Carroll (Reference Board member - see above)

Sue Cooper is married to Graham and attends leominster Priory Church where she is a bellringer and Secretary of the PCC. She is a senior teacher at a local co-educational independent day and boarding school.

Captain Jim Currin, CA.is Secretary for Evangelisation, Churches Together in England.

His full details are on our 'Guest Reviewer' page. He became a reviewer as a result of that entry.

Teresa de Bertodano worked as an editor with Darton, Longman and Todd and with HarperCollins. She is a freelance editor and compiles anthologies.

Johnny Douglas loves life's journey. The grace and goodness of God, has transformed his life, and there's more to go! He's energised and blessed by being a child of God, a leader and church pastor. Johnny delights to have two precious children and along with family and friends shares great adventures.

Johnny has served a number of Christian initiatives and local churches in the midlands and south-east of England. Johnny currently serves individuals, groups and churches, from the great city of London and does that old-fashioned blogging thing, semi-regularly at www.teapotheology.com He loves Cross pens to write with, a crisp blank journal, Macs to inspire, books to deepen, music and movies to stimulate and good food to satisfy!!

Wendy Downey

Revd Ian Gibbs is at present Rector of Diddlebury with Munslow, Holdgate, Tugford and Abdon in Corvedale, Shropshire.

Canon Ian Gibson Canon Treaurer of Chichester Cathedral, Senior Chaplain to the Bishop of Chichester and Episcopal Vicar for Ministry in the Diocese of Chichester. Previously Parish priest for two parishes in East Sussex as a Non Stipendiary Priest and also Rural Dean of Uckfield and Acting Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings. He has been ordained for twenty years. Before entering full time ministry he was in charge of the Sales Operation at Martini for 11 years then entered the field of Training Consultancy where he worked with major blue chip organisations as a Consultant and agent of change. A tutor for STETS, training ordinands, he has post graduate degrees in management and training as well as theology and when not working spends time in a darkened room with a wet towel round his head!!

Dr Tim Gibson is a member of the academic staff of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme (STETS), in Salisbury. His research interests include the interface of Christian ethics with moral philosophy, pastoral and systematic theology and modern church history. He has taught at the University of Exeter and King's College, London, as well as at Richard Huish Sixth Form College, in Taunton. When not working, Tim enjoys a game of squash, a tot of decent Scotch and a walk in the country with his Golden Retriever, Sam (not necessarily in that order).

Siân Hancock, MA, BA(Hons) QTS, Course Tutor at the Bristol Centre for Youth Ministry. Siân was appointed in 2008 to co-ordinate the Children & Family Work and Practical Theology Degree at CYM (Centre for Youth Ministry)
With a business studies and administration background, while her two daughters were young, Siân led and managed a pre-school for ten years before training as a Primary School Teacher specialising in the Early Years and studied English. Whilst teaching full time in South Gloucestershire, where she had responsibility for Religious Education and ICT, she had the opportunity to teach in both Key Stages. She completed a Masters Degree in Researching Education focussing on the impact of multiple intelligences, learning styles and classroom dialogue upon children's thinking and the learning process. Siân has experience of Philosophy for Children and is an accredited Godly Play Storyteller.
 
Helen Hancox is married to James and they live on the Essex/Suffolk border with their Weimaraner, Lucy. Helen has a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in Hebrew & Greek Textual Criticism. She has worked in various roles including communications, marketing and graphic design, most recently with Integrity Music in Eastbourne. She is currently working freelance and spending a large amount of time reading books for review (for both Christian publications and secular ones), walking Lucy, sailing and brushing up on her German.

 Alan and Paula Hill are now retired and live near Montreux, Switzerland. They moved in 2006 to work voluntarily in Lausanne Free Church, an English speaking church that holds the reformed position. They previously lived in Colchester, where Alan was an insurance broker and Paula was a housewife and later involved in education. They both were members of Greenstead Free Church.
Alan is a preaching elder, the church treasurer and a Sunday School teacher. He trained at the London Reformed Baptist Seminary (connected to the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London).
Paula designed and maintains the church website (www.lausanne-english-church.com), teaches in Sunday School, leads a young women's meeting and (with Alan) runs a weekly coffee morning.Both Alan and Paula love reading a wide variety of books - the removal men could not believe how many boxes of books had to be shipped to Switzerland!

Victoria Hill daughter of the above, a teacher currently also living in Switzerland

Dr Simon Iredale is an Orthodox writer living in Shropshire. He presently writes for theological publishing houses in America. His first book was a study of Monastic Egypt entitled The Interior Mountain: Encountering God with the Desert Saints (Abingdon 2000). As a poet, he has also embarked on the task of composing Orthodox Vespers for the major British saints. So far, he has written vespers for St Winefride, St Melangell, St Milburga, St Oswald, St Edwin and St Edfrith. He can be contacted at spiredale@googlemail.com

John Irvine has an M.A. in English Literature from Glasgow University and spent his life teaching and lecturing in Scotland, Turkey and Iraq. He retired as a lecturer in Drama and Theatre at Aberdeen University and now spends his time writing about Mary Queen of Scots and the Reformation in Scotland. His other main interest is theology. He is a church-going Catholic and lives in Edinburgh with his wife.

Alexandra Irvine wife of the above.

Steve Langford is a Baptist Minister serving a church in East Devon. Despite suffering from dyslexia Steve enjoys accademic study. His reading usually focuses on pastoral ministry, Christian spirituality and Biblical studies, athough he also admits to having a keen interest in church history, philosophy and psychology. When not studying theology Steve lists his leasure activities as watching telivision dramas, digital photography, eating out and keeping fit in the gym. Most of these he shares with his wife Elaine.

Fr J. Nicholas Latham is a Parish Priest in the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham. He was also Chairman of its Ecumenical Commission. Fifteen of his twenty-five years in Ordained Ministry were as Chaplain in the University of Birmingham, where he also was a Tutor in Medical Ethics. In his 'spare time', when not reviewing books, he enjoys looking up at buildings and keeping up with British Archaeology.

Tim Leffler spent over 18 years serving in the RAF at home and abroad, finishing his time at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire on the AWACS force. During his spare time he was a key leader in a medium-sized evangelical church associated with the Ground Level Church Network and had a passion for reading and teaching the Word. Retirement saw a complete change of life following the fulfillment of his passion by the purchase of a Christian bookshop - Advance Bookshop in Lincoln which he ran until 1997 when the prevailing economic climate saw its closure and another change of life and now finds himself managing an estate agency which is equally as rewarding serving an entirely different clientele - out of the frying pan!
Married to Alison and with 4 children spanning university to secondary school ages he still has the passion for quality theology and exposition and spends what seems like the remaining spare time as a taxi service for active teenagers.

Phelim McIntyre was, until May 07, Assistant Manager at the SPCK Bookshop in Chichester. He now works as a Life Coach and in the Christian Healing Ministry. In his spare time he is a Cub Scout leader, and is involved in teaching on intercessory prayer. An avid reader he enjoys reading and writing murder mystery and fantasy fiction. He is a volunteer with a national Christian charity, and a member of his church's PCC.

Dan McNamara at present employed as the Youth Worker with the Minbar project,  Leominster.

Guy Marshall (Reference Board member - see above.)

Rev'd Dr Chris Moore was a Chartered Surveyor, then minister of a Baptist church before teaching for a number of years at Bristol Baptist College, in their Centre for Youth Ministry. His doctoral research was into the understanding of New Testament Christology against its Second Temple background. He is currently a curate in the Diocese of Hereford, and teaches on the regional Anglican training course (WEMTC).

Rev'd Dr Alison Morgan was born in London and educated in Cambridge, from where she holds a doctorate in medieval Christian literature. After spending a number of years teaching in various universities, Alison was ordained as a minister in the Church of England in 1996. Alison now works as a thinker and writer for ReSource, a national initiative founded to encourage renewal of the Church for mission. She serves on the Council of SOMA UK, and is a member of the Archbishops' College of Evangelists. Alison was for many years part of the staff team of Holy Trinity, Leicester, where she oversaw the prayer ministry of the church. She lives in Wells, Somerset with her husband Roger, and their children Edward, Bethy and Katy.

www.alisonmorgan.co.uk

www.resource-arm.net

Hilary Morgan Information to follow

Diane Morrison is a freelance proofreader and editor, and librarian at Beacon Church Addlestone in Surrey, where she also helps out with the debt counselling service and ministry to the elderly. Married with two teenage daughters, she enjoys reading all types of books, and writing as well - She is a member of the association of Christian Writers. In what spare time remains, she likes to walk, do crosswords and complete large jigsaws.

Rev'd Naomi Nixon is a Priest in the Church of England. After a curacy in Ludlow in Shropshire, she moved to Coventry and Leicester Dioceses as a Chaplain in Further Education. She works at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College with 27000 students and 1000 staff. Her role has four main parts to it, working with students, working with staff, developing links with the local churches and teaching youth work to both Christian and Secular Youth Workers. If there's any time left over after all that she goes to the cinema, works in the garden, entertains friends and reads books.

Su Reid has recently retired from academic life where she taught English at Aberdeen and Teesside Universities and then became a senior manager at Teesside. She is now training for Lay Reader Ministry in the Diocese of York. She is married to George and they have three grown-up children, all also working in universities.

Deborah Reynolds

Rev'd Annette Rose worked for WH Smiths for many years before making the transition to SPCK and Christian books. Annette was manager of SPCK Canterbury for seven years as well as area coordinator for the South East Area. In 2004 Annette was ordained and served her title in rural East Kent. Now she is Priest in Charge of All Saints New Eltham. Annette is wife to David and Mum to Richard, a lively Two year old.

 David Rose worked for SPCK Canterbury for thirteen years working my way up to Manager.
and left in May 2007.
Currently I am looking after my two year old son Richard and am married to Annette who is vicar of All Saints, New Eltham in south London.

 Jackie Rowe is a former missionary midwife who is now a voluntary pastoral care worker in her local Anglican church. Her passion is to see Christ formed in every member of the church family. She thinks her church, St Johns and St Marks, Great Clacton, is one of the friendliest in the country and she enjoys being part of the worship group there. Her main recreation is reading and she usually has five or six books on the go at once. She also enjoys cross-stitch, walking in the country, Scrabble, photography and card making.

 Rev'd Pam Sanders is married to Min/Mark and they have four children who are young adults and mostly away from home. Pam reads anything she can put her hands on, time allowing. She has a passion for Tolkien and Orkney, plus sewing of all kinds and her special interests include childrens books, poetry and her home county of Yorkshire. Following a Curacy at Leominster Priory in Herefordshire, she is now Priest in Charge of Hutton Rudby, Middleton, Crathorne, Kirklevington and Worsall in North Yorkshire.

Abigail Sanders daughter of the above.

Peter and Jackie Scott information to follow

Dr Paul Scott. A retired hospital scientist, Paul is a member of Leominster Priory Ministry Team and is a Methodist Local Preacher. He is an enthusiastic ecumenist, supporting Churches Together locally and being on the Diocesan Ecumenical Committee.

John Seymour is a retired medical practitioner with a particular interest in psychological and complementary medicine, and a member of Emsworth Baptist Church where he leads a home group. One of his daughters is a writer.

John Shepherd

Zoe Stevenson information to follow

Bob Stoneham has been a Christian for about 15years and attends Hook Evangelical Church. He serves in the church as a deacon and also supports vulnerable people who attend church. He works in local government and has been married to Barbara for 26
years. They have two grown up sons. His interests are reading, walking listening to folk music, DIY and an interest in industrial archaeology, especial the development of railways and the Great Western in particular.

Barbara Stoneham is married to Bob and they have two grown up sons. One is in Honduras doing voluntary Christian work and the other is planning to go to university September 2009. They go to an evangelical church in Surbiton. She helps with the youth work in the 7-11 years age group. One of her main interests is being a volunteer for Release International a Christian organization working to help our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith. They hold prayer meetings in our home and she gives talks to ladies groups about this issue. At the moment she is trying to learn Spanish before we visit our son in Honduras.

Rev'd John Theaker Team Vicar in Leominster Team Ministry, Hereordshire

Dr John Thomas did anything a layman can do in his Anglican church in south London, in the 1980s-90s; now living in Wolverhampton, he writes his website Affirming the Faith (www.affirmingthefaith.com) and produces occasional publications (Twin Books). A member of the Association of Christian Writers, he is particularly interested in the future of Christian fiction and drama. He is trained in theology and spiritual direction, speaks to groups of all kinds, and supports deliverance ministry.

The Rt. Rev'd Dr. David Thomson Bishop of Huntingdon in the Diocese of Ely, previously Archdeacon of Carlisle. Before being ordained, he studied Early English Language & Literature at Oxford and worked in education. He describes himself as a liberal catholic by background, evangelical by conversion and charismatic by experience and is committed to building bridges across the divides of churchmanship and tradition.

Mike Topliss (Reference Board Member - see above.)

Barry Vendy. After 28 years in Baptist ministry, a career change took me to SPCK in Cambridge. I was happy working there for seven and a half years, before losing my job early in 2008, in the upheavals at SPCK.I am married, with 2 sons and 2 grandchildren. My wife, Pam, and I are very actively involved in our local ecumenical church, and I do some
preaching in local Baptist churches.My hobbies include reading, gardening, listening to classical music, National Trust membership, the odd bit of walking, and enjoying the use of my over-60 bus pass!

Christine Walters is a retired Optometrist and has recently moved to Stoke Lacy in Herefordshire. Since moving she has resumed bell ringing at the local churches in Bromyard and Stoke Lacy, which she enjoys very much. She is married and has two lovely daughters and enjoys reading all kinds of books.

Rev'd Graham Wise retired Baptist Minister.

Steve Wood, Shoemakers, Newbury

Terry Young is married to Danielle and, with their three sons, they worship at Slough Baptist Church. At work he is an academic researching healthcare delivery, while in his spare time he enjoys writing, including a reflection on Daniel, Going Global, which came out earlier this year.

Past reviewers...

Rosemary Addison, Sue Allen, Julia Brand, Mary Carveth, David Chant, Rebecca Chitty, William Cole, Alice Collins, Rev'd Dr Paul Collins, Sarah Davies, Ann Evans, Julian Finbow, Richard Greatrex, Kate Lucas, Sam Luscombe, Cleodie Mckinnon, Tanya McKnight, Lesley Marshall, John Methuen R.I.P. Rachel Maurice, Rachel Montague, Eamon Mooney, Teresa Nash, Bryan Nicholls R.I.P., David Reast,  Mike Roberts, Ruth Sturman. Rev'd Dr Ian Terry

Sponsors...

Our founding sponsors were SPCK, STL and Feed the Minds...

SPCK is a mission agency established over three hundred years ago to promote knowledge of the Christian faith, especially through producing and distributing Christian literature. Today it runs a major Christian publishing house and a grants-programme to assist Christian communications, publishing and education projects around the world. It is increasingly active in developing Christian ministries on the Internet:- for example the Assemblies website www.assemblies.org.uk   www.spck.org.uk 

Send the Light Ltd which became IBS/STL is now in administration.

Feed the Minds is an ecumenical Christian Charity which believes that education saves lives, reduces poverty and builds community. We supports projects that aim to transform lives in developing countries through education, communication and the provision of information to people with few resources.
Books for Life is an ecumenical programme and we support Church leaders by supporting theological education and other Church education and communications projects worldwide. We equip theological colleges and libraries with relevant literature that helps Church leaders integrate their understanding of their faith with an ability to respond to their communities' specific needs. www.feedtheminds.org