Fr Bryan Wells

Fr. Bryan was received into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1997, and, after formation at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, was ordained priest in 1999. He then assisted at St Marks’, West Wickham, and was chaplain at Bishop Challoner School, Shortlands, followed by a year at Coloma Convent School, Croydon.

He and Teresa have three grown-up sons – Matthew, Tim, married to Dominique, and Dominic. They now have two grandchildren – Jennifer (Feb 07) and Rebecca (Nov 08).

In October 2008 Fr Bryan celebrated two years at St James'. He is grateful for the support and fellowship of the other Christian ministers in the area, and is himself greatly committed to ecumenism - having lived in an inter-church marriage for twenty-five years! In September 2007 he was appointed (for two years) as President of Petts Wood Churches Together.

In January 2008, he formed the Petts Wood Festival Chorus, whose members were drawn from many of the Petts Wood churches and the Bromley Catholic Deanery. Their first work consisted of two performances of Bach's St John Passion in Petts Wood at Christ Church United Reformed Church and at St James' Church. The choir plans to sing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ during Lent 2009 with performances in both St Francis’ and St James’ Churches.

Father Bryan Wells

Fr Bryan was brought up in Tottenham, North London. He studied music at Goldsmith’s College, New Cross, and it was there that he met his future wife, Teresa. After college, both he and Teresa began teaching, Fr Bryan secondary music, and Teresa infants.

He trained for ordination in the Church of England at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, West Yorkshire and was ordained to a curacy at Leigh-on Sea, Essex. He then continued as a worker-priest (teacher) and assisted at St Peter’s, Limpsfield, Surrey, continuing further study in Religious Education at Masters level. This was followed by a second curacy in Weymouth, Dorset, where he was also chaplain to the FE college, and finally a post as Team Vicar for almost nine years, in the Selsdon (South Croydon) Team Ministry.