Our Pastor
Andy Braunston has served as our pastor since 1996.
Andy was born and raised in London, first coming along to MCC in 1987 whilst he was studying for his theology degree at Avery Hill College in South London. After graduating in 1988 Andy started to train for ordained ministry with MCC and also qualified as a teacher. In 1991 he founded our congregation in East London and was licensed as MCC clergy in May 1992.
Andy moved to the North West five years later and started to work full time for MCC Manchester in 1998.
As well as serving as our pastor, Andy has held a variety of denominational roles, currently serving as MCC's ecumenical representative in the United Kingdom and also as a member of our Judiciary Pool which investigates and hears complaints made about those who serve in a leadership capacity.
He serves as a chaplain to the Greater Manchester Police and sits as a magistrate at the Cities of Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court. He is also chair of trustees of the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit which offers free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers and those effected by immigration control, and vice chair of Grace Incorporated Faith Trust - a mentoring project for young people in Moss Side.
After gaining his BA (Hons) in Theological Studies in 1988, Andy studied for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Thames Polytechnic and gained this in 1990.
More recently Andy studied for a Management qualification with the Open University and is currently enrolled on an MA programme in Contextual Theology at Luther King House in Rusholme. This degree will be awarded by the University of Manchester. He hopes to complete this by March 2013.
Andy lives with his partner Ian and their two labradors, Beech and Ben.
In his spare time, Andy likes to attempt to persuade the dogs to let him have a comfortable seat in his campervan.
