Our Mission Statement
“To advance the sharing of the Christian message in Lewes and the surrounding area for the benefit of the public through the holding of prayer meetings, participation in artistic performances, workshops and exhibitions, broadcasting, producing and/or distributing literature on Christianity."
Trustees Who's Who
Carol Taplin, Trustee Secretary
Carol became involved in Lewes Passion Play in 2000, when two of her children were involved in the Maunday Thursday drama in Southover Church. She was involved as a singer in the 2010 and 2015 productions, and involved in organising the refreshments teams for the Passion Play rehearsals in 2019/20 (sadly cancelled due to Covid). In 2025, Carol joined the trustees after being invited to help further the mission of sharing the Christian faith through the arts. With a background in secretarial work and administration, she will be able to deal with the tasks required of a Trustee Secretary. 
Rachael Nicholson is a sculptor and art psychotherapist. She joined Lewes Christian Arts as a trustee in 2025 and is excited about encouraging local arts initiatives and contributing creative ideas to the charity. She runs a Sunday Club for children at St Anne's Church in Lewes and uses recycled materials in this space, as well as in her own sculptural work. Rachael is motivated to support thought-provoking, high quality, spiritually oriented arts events in Lewes.
Chrissie Pepper has been a member of Kings Church for over forty years, where she has helped lead worship. She has been involved in music since she was a young girl when she played the organ for her lay reader father in the village churches of Wiltshire. She trained as a nurse in Bristol and has more recently worked as a practice nurse in GP surgeries. Chrissie has dabbled in photography and has written and performed three musical productions, often using mime and dance to interpret songs.
Lorna Melia taught music in the North alongside raising three sons. In Rodmell since 2010, she has played organ and piano in the Ouse valley churches. She now helps lead worship at Kingston church, and has fun drumming with both Brighton Wind Band and Lewes Concert orchestra. She is chair/trustee with Brighton and Hove Mencap. Involvement with preparations for the 2020 Lewes Passion Play proved an inspiration, and getting to know other Christians in the area has been an encouragement and help to her faith.
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Serena J Smith, Chair of Trustees
Serena came to Lewes in 1981 and became a Christian here in 1988. She has taught drama all her life in schools, prisons and in the community. In 2000, Serena directed The Maundy Thursday Event for Southover under the banner of Churches Together. By 2009, she helped lay the foundations for Lewes Passion Play for 2010 and 2015 productions. Serena says, "It is a privilege to work with wonderful people with all their incredible gifts and personalities as part of a team exploring and sharing the gospel." 
Peter Shears works part-time as an English teacher at a Catholic Comprehensive school in Hove. He has been involved with the Lewes passion Play since its inception; writing, performing and helping out as a trustee. Peter is also a Reader at St. Anne's church in Lewes where he takes services, preaches and leads times for study and reflection such as the church's yearly Lent course. Peter has recently gained an MA in Christianity and the Arts and is a member of the management committee for the Methodist Modern Art Collection.
Graham Purdye is one of the original Passion Play trustees and has been involved with the last three plays. He has performed in the role of disciples including Peter and Andrew. Graham is looking forward to witnessing the usage of different art forms to spread the Christian message in Lewes and the surrounding area.
Robert Parr has been in involved in various drama groups in Brighton. He has now moved to Lewes, and looks forward to being a part of the new Lewes Christian Arts. He enjoys illustration, and also likes (but is definitely still learning) playing the bass guitar. He has produced a couple of comic books. The rumour that he is a reincarnation of Blackbeard is entirely unfounded. |
Josie Alwyn, M.A., Literary Arts teacher, educated at Lewes County Grammar School for Girls (1960s) and Sussex University (1975-85), has lived and worked most of her life amid the Sussex Downs. Fostering Christian Arts, in the widest and most inclusive sense, is a lifelong pleasure: to share contemplative methods of observing the Word of God in the Bible, Nature and Art as a way of building healing bridges from Soul to Spirit and enabling creative expression of all kinds in everyone.
Churches Together in the Lewes Area
CTLA unites in pilgrimage churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures. In obedience to God's will and in the power of the Holy Spirit they commit themselves to deepen their communion with Christ and one another, and to fulfill their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world, to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. http://www.churchestogetherlewes.org.uk/