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Who We Are
The History of Highworth Community Church
Highworth Community Church is an independent church that began in 1981 as part of the Charismatic House Church movement. We’re a diverse church family, made up of people from many backgrounds and church traditions, alongside many who are new to faith. We value unity with the other churches in our town and seek a broad, healthy spirituality shaped and built by Jesus.
We’re a church family of all ages and abilities, who love to gather, grow and serve together. At all our gatherings we make space to encounter God and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, as we worship, learn and encourage one another. Our heart is to be full of the life of God and to reach out in love to our community.
Being part of HCC isn’t a one-size-fits-all commitment — whatever your circumstances, there’s a place to belong, to connect and to grow.
Core Team
Our team of leaders is overseen by Matt and Kathryn Ford (Senior leaders) and championed by Jon and Lizzie Hares (Outreach and Operations lead).
They serve and love the HCC family alongside excellent Trustees, the Support Team, Vision Team and wider leaders.
We practice an Emergent leadership culture. Leaders aren't born they grow. We are less concerned about gifting and labels and more focused on heart and character.
We believe in Christ centred servant leadership. Leaders have their identity and authority rooted in their Saviour enabling them to go low and wash the feet of a broken world.
Lead Pastor
Matt Ford
Matt loves Jesus and people, that's why serving HCC since 2012 has been such a privilege. He has studied with Salt and Light ministries, Iris Global and YWAM, as well as growing through extensive travel and learning from believers all around the world. He values the presence of God, vulnerability and forging disciples whose lives are built on the rock of scripture and prayer.
Co-Lead Pastor
Kathryn Ford
Kathryn has a deep love for worshipping Jesus and creating space for people to encounter the living God. She carries a heart of encouragement, especially for newer believers and young people, and is passionate about seeing God move in this area and across England. Alongside pastoring, she leads the HCC Worship Collective and serves as a CAP Debt Centre Manager.
Outreach Pastor
Jon Hares
Jon grew up in Highworth but was called away to Manchester to be an evangelist and serve in a church plant. He trained with The Message Trust and served in an Eden Project while Studying at Nazarene Theological College. Since 2014 he's been working for HCC. What Jon loves most is opportunities to share Jesus with everyone he meets.
Children's Pastor
Heather Wilson
Heather has grown up in HCC. After going away to Uni and working for CAP she has moved back and is following her playful heart and passion for children. Heather is a creative who loves worshipping and inviting others to join in. You'll often see her carrying a bag of craft supplies or random props ready to share Jesus in school or at her next event.
Youth Pastor
Caleb Ford
Caleb is passionate about seeing young people encounter Jesus and grow in a living, rooted faith. He loves building authentic relationships, encouraging young people to discover their identity in Christ, and walk boldly in God’s purposes. Caleb carries a heart for this generation and a vision to see young people thrive in community and mission.
Operations Lead
Lizzie Hares
After a career in primary teaching, Lizzie studied with South Central Gospel Partnership and loves helping people discover more about scripture and getting to know Jesus. Her heart is to serve the Kingdom by creating welcoming and easy spaces where people quickly feel part of the family. She is also married to Jon.
Prayer Ministry Lead
Will Pearse
Will discovered that Jesus is real while in his teens and that changed everything! Today the perspective that motivates him is that God can change those parts of our lives that seem entrenched and irredeemable. Together with his wife Jo, he leads the prayer ministry team at HCC where we have a centre for Bethel Sozo. For many years, Will has been a worship leader both within church and at other events.
Prayer Ministry Lead and Chair of Trustees
Jo Pearse
Jo became a Christian as a young teenager and has never looked back! She loves to pray with people and help them find freedom and fullness of life in Jesus, and to encourage women to function fully in their God given callings.
Alongside this, she is a wife, mother, grandmother, runs a small business and is chair of trustees. Together with Will, she heads up the church prayer ministry and Sozo team.