The Minister & Staff

The Reverend Angus MacLeod was inducted as Minister of St Columba’s, Pont Street and St Andrew’s, Newcastle in June 2012, following sixteen years of service as a chaplain in the British Army. His family roots are on the Isle of Skye and Durham, in the North East of England. He studied at the University of St Andrews before travelling and working in America, London, Milan and Romania. Prior to ministry he worked in advertising and teaching. He returned to St Andrews to study Divinity before completing his training with churches in North Carolina and Glasgow.

He is married to Dr Liz Brutus. Their daughter Olivia was born in 2011. He is a sports enthusiast and lover of the sea and the hills. His great grandfather was the first minister of St Columba’s.

The Reverend William McLaren was inducted to St Columba’s as Associate Minister, St Columba’s Pont Street in July 2021.

On leaving school he studied history and political science at Dundee University followed by a degree in theology and training for ministry at New College, Edinburgh. William’s probationary years were spent as assistant minister at Dundee Parish Church (St.Mary's) with the late Very Rev W.B.R. Macmillan.

From 1990 he worked in Greenock and as a part-time prison chaplain before becoming parish minister at Polbeth in West Lothian for over seven years. Leaving Polbeth was a difficult decision but an opportunity to work in Dublin as Presbyterian-Methodist chaplain at Dublin City University and Chaplain at The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). It was a fascinating job, working with students of different faiths and nationalities from all over the world. After Dublin he has been minister at Stobswell, an inner city parish in Dundee for 14 years before heading to St Columba’s.

William enjoys the theatre, not just the big West End shows but some of the smaller theatres too and is a keen Arsenal supporter.

Benedict Lewis-Smith was organ scholar at The Queen’s College, Oxford (2007–2010) and prior to this was awarded a place as a specialist musician and organ scholar at Wells Cathedral School, Somerset.

He combines his role as Director of Music at St Columba’s with a substantial freelance career in London including vocal coaching, accompanying and conducting.

He has broadcast on BBC radio 3, and recently recorded on the digital label Resonus Classics. Recent performances include recitals in the Victoria International Arts Festival, Gozo, and a concert tour of Buenos Aires, where he delivered classes in English song to the students at the Departamento de Artes Musicales y Sonoras. He currently conducts the office choirs of BNY Mellon, Fidelity Investments and The News Corporation.

Previously Director of Music at St. George’s School, Windsor Castle he now works with choirs at Westminster School and Hill House International Preparatory School in London. He also performs alongside Julian Collings as the Oxbridge Organ Duo, with recent performances in Kristiansand Cathedral (Norway) and St George’s Basilica (Gozo). They are soon to release a CD with Regent Records “Firebird: virtuosic works for organ duet” www.oxbridgeorganduo.com

Catherine began learning the organ with Donald Davison at the age of fifteen when she was awarded a three-year scholarship by the Church of Ireland. Since then, she has become an Associate of both the London College of Music in Piano Performance (2013) and the Royal College of Organists (2017) and has been an organ scholar at Rochester Cathedral and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Aside from her organ studies, Catherine has always been an enthusiastic choral singer and director. Following on from her role as Acting Assistant Director of Chapel Music in Winchester College, she is currently training to be a music teacher at St Catherine’s School in Guildford. In her capacity as Head of Organ Studies, she also directs the school chapel choir and co-ordinates the Jennifer Bate Organ Academy for female organists.

Stef is from Lyon, France but has been in London since 2007 and now has a dual nationality. She studied Theatre and Dance as well as Communication and Marketing at University. She worked as Office/Operations Manager for various industries, from Baby Swimming to Drama Schools and joined St Columba’s Church in October 2023. During her spare time, she loves going to theatre and dance performances – West End, small fringes theatres, any venue, with a yearly highlight when Panto time comes – and also lots of concerts. Being French, she loves her food but is a disastrous cook, however she is lucky enough to have a chef for partner.

Teresa is an accountant, building a successful career within the charity field after years working in the business and commercial sector. She started working at St Columba’s in 2012 and is well known to the congregation as she regularly attends services on Sundays.

She is originally from a very close and traditional Mexican family and moved to London many years ago, opening doors to new experiences of life. Teresa enjoys traveling, cooking, meeting friends and takes time to support elderly people in her community.

Session Clerk

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