A Brief introduction - TO MATT TAYLOR -
our CURATE wef July 2010 
There have been a few times in my life when I have felt both excited and just a little apprehensive all at the same time. One time was on my first date with my wife-to-be, Sandra, we’d known each other for a while, playing in the same band – but this was a ‘date’. I managed, somehow, to take her to see a band that specialised in screaming out swear words to punk music. Not a good start. Obviously things have gone a lot better since then! Mainly.
I was born and raised in sunny Staines, under the flight path of many millions of aircraft over the years, My parents are both Christians and brought me up in the local church until I made my own commitment. I was diagnosed with glaucoma as a child, so have always had that problem in the background, but largely, until recent years (rather too many operations in the last couple of years for my liking, but all is well again now) it hasn’t been too much of a problem.
I spent my early teens painting and playing guitar most of the time, I formed a band with friends at school, and have played in a band ever since.
I went to art college after leaving 6th form, hoping to pursue a career in painting, but realised that it wasn’t going to be easy to make a living as a fine artist, and by now I was planning to marry Sandra, if she’d have me. We got married in 1987, and I was looking for a job that might meet a certain sense of calling I felt I had on my life. I wondered how God might want to use someone like myself who had a degree in fine art and couldn’t do much else. It was my mother-in-law who mentioned to me an ad she’d seen for a temporary job from a Christian organisation, called CWR (the ‘Every Day With Jesus’ people), as a warehouseman. Well, that temporary job actually lasted for 22 years in all, and in June I leave the organisation having been head of their design and media team for a very large proportion of that time – where my creative and artistic background have been a very crucial part of that role, I even got to play my guitar at work on many occasions.
Nearly 20 years ago, our first daughter, Jasmine was born, and then our second daughter, Bethany was born 17 years ago. We also have a dog, named Roly who thinks of himself as a very important member of the family, and even has his own Facebook page (with quite a following!). We own a caravan and love to holiday in Pembrokeshire as often as we possibly can, in fact we are heading off to St David’s in just a few days for a family break together.
Sandra and I have always continued to play in a band, and as well as playing secular music for parties and wedding receptions etc, we have also been known to lead worship in other churches (apart from our own) – music has always played a large part in our lives.
The last few years have been quite intense as I have followed a growing call to the ordained ministry, and found myself in training at St Mellitus College part-time whilst also working full-time at CWR. Which brings me to where we are now, with final presentations and final essays looming large, and ordination in sight.
Sandra, apart from singing in bands has been Pastoral Assistant at our church for the last 10 years, as well as being involved directly with the usual kinds of pastoral issues that occur in church family life, she has been very involved with developing the children’s and youth work, working regularly in the local C of E primary school, and setting up a prayer ministry team. She also currently works freelance (part-time) with typesetting and design from home.
Jaz is coming with us to Rushden, having finished education, she hopes eventually to find a career in the film industry. Beth will be with us whenever she can manage, but she will stay behind in Staines with Sandra’s parents to finish her Performing Arts Btec course (acting), at college. Both girls are musical and talented in the arts (and I’m a proud parent!).
There is so much more to share of us and of our journey so far, which I’d love to tell of as it shows the goodness and faithfulness of God. But I am sure we will have the time to chat in the near future, and indeed look forward
to it.
What else is a certainty is our excitement about the prospect of joining St Mary’s Rushden and the very real sense of God’s calling to be part of what God is doing in your midst. As Christians, we have an incredible message to share of an unshakable kingdom which pours out hope for all through Jesus. For it says in Hebrews 12:28 …
‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”’
Matt Taylor