Church Support Worker: Luzia Watt

Luzia started working for the Congregational Federation in June 2020. Previously Luzia worked as a Family and Community Worker for several years with the North Kent Methodist Circuit. She has also worked as a secondary school teacher for 10 years in different schools in Kent and the Derby area.

Luzia currently works part-time as a CF National Church Support Worker, where she visits, equips and supports churches in many areas. Luzia's role is to help churches apply for Mission grants, direct churches to resources and materials, and plan and organize National events such as the Youth and Children Assembly, Youth & Children’s Leaders retreats, etc. Last year Luzia organized a Mission trip to Brazil and took 8 members from different churches across the Federation to work with two Congregational Churches in Brazil. Now Luzia is organizing a Youth Mission trip to Brazil in 2026. Luzia is also responsible for the CF National Youth & Children Ministry and for producing the 2 National Newsletters.

Luzia is married to Gary Watt who works as a Methodist Chaplain to the Army Forces. As a military family they are expected to move very often, so their daughter Isabella, who is 14 years old, studies in a boarding school in the Southwest of England.

Learning and Development Manager: Catherine Booton

Catherine joined the Congregational Federation in 2023 as Learning and Development Manager. As part of this role, she is also Director of Studies for the FD in Practical Theology course.

Catherine is involved in developing and delivering courses that help churches and individuals to learn and looks at new ways of involving and engaging the wider CF in opportunities to discover ways of being church. She also, when asked, visits churches to lead worship and talk about the work of the Learning and Development department. 

Before taking on this role, Catherine was a product of the (as it was then) Integrated Training Course and served as a church minister for 18 years at Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Newton Burgoland Congregational churches, where she grew up and came to faith.  

Outside of work and church duties, Catherine gives much of her time in volunteering, she volunteers at Ashby Foodbank, as Padre of 1188 (Coalville) squadron (RAF Air Cadets) and as a leader, for more than 30 years, with Girlguiding. In what's left of her spare time she enjoys listening to rock music, knitting and other handicrafts, reading and visiting interesting places with husband, Robert, and son, Harry. 

Learning and Development Admin: Madeleine Varley 

Maddy joined the Congregational Federation in November 2017 as Learning and Development Administrator, having previously worked as a Student Support Officer in a sixth form college.

Her role within the Congregational Federation is to support the Learning and Development Manager and the students and tutors on the Foundation Degree course, along with other training initiatives and church support activities.  She also works closely with staff at York St John University (our validating university) to complete administration tasks related to the Foundation Degree.

Since joining the Congregational Federation she has completed both BA Hons and MA degrees in her spare time. She enjoys reading, films and property renovation.

She is married and has two grown up children and three grandchildren.

Safeguarding Officer: Lisa Vickers

Lisa joined the CF at the beginning of January 2015 as Safeguarding Officer. Lisa’s role is to undertake all the necessary functions of an Officer for Safeguarding, such as maintaining up-to-date DBS/PVG checks for all those listed in the Federation Year Book, Safeguarding advice and guidance to Churches and issuing of Safeguarding Certificates for Keep Safe Churches. Lisa also administers the Accreditation Process.

Social Media and Website Officer: Neil Chappell

Neil started working for the Federation in November 2013. Previously he was Minister at Greenacres Congregational Church in Oldham, having commenced there after finishing his training course at Northern College in 1993.

Neil now works with the other staff to maintain the Congregational Federation website, and to raise the profile of the Congregational Federation through Social Media. He also has a remit to help the churches of the Congregational Federation with their internet presence, working as much as possible with Area associations to help with communication. He helps out with training and the practical running of activities like the May Assembly.

He works part-time for the Federation, and is also employed part-time as Minister of Southam and Bishop's Itchington Congregational Church. Neil lives with his wife, Debby, in Southam, where Debby works at a local doctors surgery. Their daughter Charlotte is a teacher, their son Kristian works in the motor trade, and their youngest son, Jacob works in Computer Aided Design.