The Variety of Historic Church Buildings in the Region is Astonishing

John Anderson

Chair

John is a patron of a small country church in Northumberland and has been a trustee of the Lord Crewe Charity for 20 years. These experiences have convinced him of the importance of the Christian faith maintaining a wide geographical footprint in all forms. John has been the Charity’s Chairman since 2023.

Joanna Pullan

Chair Designate

Joanna is a RIBA Accredited Conservation Architect and Founding Director of Adelphi Architecture. She has delivered a wide range of heritage and conservation projects, focusing on the careful repair and creative reuse of historic buildings. Joanna sits on the Newcastle Conservation Advisory Panel and the Newcastle & Northumberland Society Planning and Regeneration Team, contributing her experience to discussions on heritage, design quality and place. A longstanding Trustee of the Northumbria Historic Churches Trust, she is to become Chair in 2026.

Liz Walford

Vice-Chair Designate

Liz has always had an interest in buildings - their history, construction, maintenance and changing issues.  Lately this has been more focused on Churches.  Her career was in not-for-profit housing and construction organisations, gaining extensive Board-level executive and non-executive experience during times of rapid growth. She is to become Vice-Chair of the Trust in 2026.

Matthew Sinclair

Treasurer

Matthew is a Chartered Financial Planner with a particular specialism in investments and pensions.  Matthew has previously served as an acolyte and crucifer at Hexham Abbey.  Matthew has acted as Treasurer since 2024; applying his expert financial strategies, the trust’s resources are optimized for maximum impact, supporting our charitable initiatives and long-term goals.

Dennis Parker

Vice Treasurer

Dennis' background is in the aircraft industry with avionic technical management.  In recent years he has been involved with the repair and maintenance of historic churches and overseeing a major reservation spire removal/reinstatement from start to completion.  His wife, Janet, is a priest in the Church of England. Dennis has been Vice Treasurer since 2024.

Mark Allison MBE

Trustee Secretary

Mark Allison MBE is currently a Permanent Staff Administration Officer with the Ministry of Defence. He has had previous employment within the private sector and has over 40 years experience within administration services.  Mark supports the NHCT trustees and acts as first point of contact for potential applicants.

David Harris

Trustee

David was a solicitor in private practice and for over ten years, he combined this with acting as Deputy Diocesan Registrar for the Durham Diocese where he currently serves on the DAC.  He has a longstanding interest in church architecture and history and as a former Church Warden and current PCC member he has a desire to see church buildings fulfill their mission in the 21st Century.

Bill Heslop

Trustee

Bill has experience with Durham Diocese, serving for 38 years first as Housing Secretary then as Care of Churches Secretary.  He has an obvious passion for church buildings, having served on 3 PCCs- two of them as a treasurer, and he was a churchwarden for 10 years.

Martin Hulse

Trustee

Martin is the chief executive of the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, a small regional charity that restores heritage at risk.  Martin acts as a project manager for the restoration of buildings and structures.  He has vast experience in fundraising, heritage and managing charities.

Laurie McLeman

Trustee

Laurie is a longstanding Trustee, having served as the Treasurer until 2024.  He has spent some 50 years in a wide range of construction activities, and has 30 years of experience in the Reserve Forces throughout the North East.  His interest in church buildings comes from his Christian beliefs.

Kate Sussams

Trustee Designate

Kate is an archaeologist by training and has had over 30 years experience in the heritage sector, as Assistant Keeper of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum, National Trust Property Manager at Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon site and Director of Bede’s World Museum. Having lived in the North East for over 15 years, she has been Chief Operating Officer at Newcastle Cathedral for over a decade and has considerable experience in operations, capital projects, charity governance and financial management.

Leanne Tindle

Trustee

Leanne is a Senior Heritage Consultant with a Master's Degree in Building Archaeology from the University of York.  With experience working in the professional heritage sector, Leanne has further developed a strong interest for historic buildings, particularly churches.  Her expertise and enthusiasm is a support the vital work of the Churches Trust. 

Eddie Tulasiewicz

Trustee

Eddie thrives on using his expertise in broadcasting, communications and public affairs to make a real difference in the heritage, faith and charity sectors.  His mission is to make sure that people know about the vital work the Trust does to safeguard the UK’s church heritage.  Eddie is also the Head of Communications and Public Affairs at the National Churches Trust, and a Member of the Company of Communicators and a Freeman of the City of London.

John Waugh MBE

Trustee

John is a Chartered Architect and has run his own successful practice for more than 40 years.  He has carried out a vast range of complex building projects including works to over 30 churches for the RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.  John has recently completed 10 years' service on his local Parish Council where he held the Planning and Finance Portfolios.  John has been appointed an MBE for Services to Education, having served as a school governor of his local primary, secondary schools and sixth form college for almost 50 years. He is also Chair of Trustees of YMCA Wearside and is a Trustee of Saint Nicholas Education Trust.