Andrew Katay
Senior Minister

Andrew is married to Catriona and together they love hanging out with their kids, Miles, Paige and Sabrina. Andrew came to Christ as a teenager, and was nurtured in faith through the ministry of the Evangelical Union at Sydney University and St Barnabas, Broadway, where he was variously a member and youth group leader, the office secretary, Senior Associate Minister and Chaplain!

After moving to become Senior Minister of St John's Ashfield in 2005, Andrew's role expanded when Ashfield parish amalgamated with Five Dock and Haberfield to form Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community in 2008.

Jill Williams
Assistant Minister (St Alban's Congregations)
Director of Joyous Fellowship

Jill feels that she's come full circle, having become a Christian as a teenager through St Oswald's Haberfield.  After studying at Sydney Uni, Jill was a high school teacher before retraining as a nurse and then working for St Matthias Centenial Park for several years.  Jill then studied theology at Moore College, taught at Mary Andrews College and ministered in the Rozelle/Balmain area before joining the CCIW team in August 2008. 

Jill's focus is on CCIW's 8.30 and 10am congregations at St Alban's Five Dock, as well as co-ordinating Fellowship Groups throughout the church. 

Jill lives at Summer Hill with her cat Millie, and when time and money permit she travels to see her family in Canada or the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne.

(Jill works Tuesday-Thursday and Sundays)

Matt Steele

Assistant Minister (St Alban's Congregations)

Matt grew up in the paradise of Western Sydney. His family follows Christ and so he has known Christs love since he was a kid. Matt married his amazing wife Clare in 1999. He is also dedicated to watching sport and firmly believes that 2010 will be the year of the Eel.

Since moving to the Inner West to study theology (SMBC, 2002-2004), Matt's life has changed in many ways. Going a day without three coffees is no longer an option. Searching for parking is a daily adventure. Enjoying the beauty of this part of the city is a constant pleasure. More significantly, Matts family has grown and is still growing (with Jackson and Rori and a baby on the way) as is his enjoyment of Gods rich blessings.

After ministering together in Balmain and Rozelle, Matt and Clare started at CCIW in July 2009 and felt at home almost immediately. Matt has now joined the staff team and is a candidate for ordination in the Anglican Church, completing his studies at Moore College in 2010.

(Matt works 2.75 days per week at various times depending on study commitments)

Megan Winch
Women's Pastoral Minister (St John's 10am)

Megan first moved to the inner west to study design at the University of Technology, Sydney. She worked briefly as a Visual Arts teacher before having children, working in the weight-loss industry and completing more study.

Whilst living at the St Barnabas Terraces as a student, Megans childhood faith grew and matured into a deep conviction of Jesus being the suffering servant. Before coming to CCIW in 2009, Megan and her family served at St Barnabas, Broadway.

Megan loves being married to Paul, and with him raising their three kids Oliver, Evangeline and Reilly. She has too many hobbies to list but they fall into two categories - active (painting, sewing, gardening, swimming, or Pilates) or sitting (watching sport, especially cricket and AFL, reading, or chatting with friends).

At CCIW Megan is responsible for pastoral care of women , co-leading the womens fellowship group and co-ordinating the playgroup, MOCHA.

(Megan works Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)

Fiona Smartt
Women's Pastoral Minister
(St John's 6pm)

Fiona had the great joy of being born in a Christian family and has known Jesus for as long as she can remember. She remembers growing significantly in her love and knowledge of Jesus towards the end of high school.

After spending five years at Sydney Uni studying media and communications, Fiona worked in this field for a few years before going back to Syney Uni where she completed a ministry traineeship with the EU.

Fiona lives in Ashfield with her husband Ryan and they have loved being a part of CCIW since 2007. Fiona likes to spend her free time reading books, drinking coffee and cooking a great meal to enjoy with friends.

Fiona works with the St Johns 6pm congregation and has a particular focus on caring pastorally for women. She is also studying part time at Moore College.

(Fiona works Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays)

Blake Hatton
Ministry Trainee (St John's)
Director of Outreach

Blake grew up in Bexley North and Menai in the south of Sydney.  After finishing school at Menai High he studied Agriculture at Sydney Uni before joining CCIW as a ministry trainee in 2009.

As director of outreach, Blake oversees projects and activities that seek to connect CCIW to the local community by raising awareness of the church and promoting the gospel.  Blake is also on the pastoral staff for the CCIW congregations at St John's Ashfield, particularly the 6pm evening congregation.

Attending a Christian scout camp, Blake heard the gospel call and was brought back into a right relationship with God in 1999. Since then he has grown at Menai Baptist church for some years and at St Johns at Ashfield since the beginning of 2006.

Being an outdoors person, Blake likes most water sports - especially surfing and spear fishing. He and his wife Sarah both grew up in the quieter outer suburbs and enjoy the busy-ness of life in the heart of Ashfield. They love hot chips with chicken salt from Croydon, bike riding and camping.  They hate cockroaches and theology that isn't practical.

(Blake works Monday - Friday and Sundays)

Tim Pedley
Director of Children's Ministries

Tim has spent most of his life in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, and it was there he was first introduced to Jesus. Whilst Tim was living in the USA in 2001, Jesus really started making an impact on the way he did life. Since then God has kept equipping him for a lifetime of serving him - notably through a ministry traineeship with the EU at Sydney Uni and currently through studies at SMBC.

One real passion for Tim is to see young people kick on as followers of Jesus for the rest of their lives. He loves that his position with CCIW allows him plenty of time to open up God’s word with the kids and youth of the Inner West.

Tim is into almost everything sport – playing it, watching it and talking about it. Football is at the top of the list, with touch footy not too far behind. He also has a taste for good coffee and living in the Inner West is great for this.

(Tim works Tuesday - Friday and Sundays)

Tom Barrett
Director of Service Production
Director of Communications

God worked slowly and patiently on Tom for many years before he turned to Christ in 1997.  Influential discoveries along the way were the historicity of Jesus' resurrection, and that God accepts us because of Jesus' sacrifice, not our own merits.

Tom's long history with music and technology led him to study both at Sydney Uni for five years, followed by several years in a "real job" developing web software.  In 2005 he became part-time music director for St John's Ashfield, and now works full time for CCIW.  Tom's service production role involves co-ordinating music and all the other aspects of our contemporary services, aiming to make each Sunday as smooth, engaging and spiritually powerful as possible.  He also oversees CCIW's communications channels including our web presence, printed publications and technology.

Tom lives in Croydon with his lovely wife Vanessa; their hobbies include couch-sitting, TV watching and avoiding organised sport, with Tom occasionally making progress on his "forthcoming" solo album.

(Tom works Tuesday - Friday and Sundays)

Merina Selvarajah
Office Secretary

Merina was brought up in a  Christian family in Sri Lanka, and spent her school days there at an American missionary school. She migrated to Australia as a teenager and completed her B.Comm at the University of New South Wales.

Since 2000, Merina has worked at the  St Johns Ashfield church office as bookkeeper and parish administrator.  When CCIW was formed, her role expanded with the larger parish.

Merina has worshipped at St Johns Ashfield for the past 20 years. Both her kids - Roshani and Valentino - enjoy Kids Church at 10am, though Merina prefers the classic 8am service.

(Merina works Monday - Wednesday and Fridays)

Leo Chen
Internationals Minister

Leo grew up in Taiwan playing and loving baseball. Then in year 10, he moved to Sydney, and settled into this beautiful city he now calls home.

It was through a friend who asked him to church that Leo came in contact with the Lord Jesus. It was the active witness of love from God's people and the impact of teaching from the Bible that helped Leo to take comfort in the forgiveness and great hope found in Jesus.

Leo is married to Jenny with three boys who are lots of fun. They love cooking and eating together as a family and with their friends. Pizza and sushi are among their favourites.

The goal of the internationals minister is to help CCIW bring the good news of Jesus to people with cultural backgrounds outside of Australia. The desire is to see a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lord Jesus.

(Leo works Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday)