The new Trustees, who take up their appointments on 16 December 2021 are:
- Gerald Corbett DL, a businessman who acted in executive and non-executive roles for some of the UK's largest and most recognisable companies for over 30 years. He currently acts as chairman to SEGRO Plc, a FTSE 100 industrial and logistics property group and has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire since 2015. He has served as Chair of the Alban Foundation, and of the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
- Dr David Muir, a political scientist and theologian. He serves as an Executive Member of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, co-chairman of the National Church Leaders' Forum and is on the executive committee for the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race. David is a much-sought commentator in the media and Christian Press. He is currently Head of Whitelands College at the Roehampton University.
- Sarah Stewart OBE DL, who has had a wide-ranging career in marketing and business development, holding executive and non-executive positions in the private, public, and third sectors. She is currently Chair of Governors at Gateshead College alongside roles with Beamish Museum, Newcastle Cathedral and Newcastle University and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear in 2020.
- Dr Nigel Walter, a Specialist Conservation Architect; through his Cambridge practice Archangel he works with church communities across many denominations to create a better fit between their buildings and their communal life. Nigel holds a PhD in historic building conservation at the University of York, where he is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture. He is a Licensed Lay Minister in his local parish church.
Luke March DL, Chairman of the National Churches Trust said:
"We're delighted to welcome four new Trustees to the Board of the National Churches Trust. Together with our existing Trustees they bring in depth strategic knowledge and the skills needed to help us step up the support we offer to the UK's church buildings."
"Church buildings belong to all of us. That's why, supported by Sir Michael Palin, we have recently started a national debate about local churches and chapels, 'The Future of the UK's Church Buildings'."
"Churches, chapels and meeting houses are vital community buildings, places of worship and a much-loved part of the UK's history and heritage. Our latest research shows that they provide at least £50 billion in economic and social value to the UK each year."
"Guided by our Trustees we will continue to do everything we can to support church buildings as we all stand to lose if we let them disappear."
