Neville Burt is the current pastor, having taken up the challenge in 2005 as he neared retirement from full time employment as a Civil Engineer at HR Wallingford, where he worked for 43 years.  He specialised in dredging (why does everyone laugh?), a fascinating job that took him to many parts of the world, from government offices and board rooms to container ports and mangrove swamps. He continues to do some consultancy work.

When he married his first wife, Jennie, in 1969 their first home was Copse Cottage in High Road, Brightwell.  They moved to a bigger house in Cholsey as the family started to grow.  Jennie sadly died quite suddenly of cancer in 2005, virtually the last service she attended was Neville's welcome service at Brightwell Free Church.

In 1973 Neville and Jennie were founder members of Ridgeway Community Church, the history of which you can read on the Ridgeway website.

 in BrightwellNeville remains on the Eldership of Ridgeway and values the support that the Elders and members give to his work.  He is also Chairman of the executive body that runs the Fountain Christian Bookshop in Wallingford.  Neville remarried in April 2007 to Jean Rowlands.  Jean was already resident in Kings Orchard, Brightwell, and was well known to many as the proprietor of Annie's Tea Rooms in High Street, Wallingford, before her retirement.Shortly after their marriage they purchased Tree Tops in Church Lane, literally backing onto Copse Cottage although Tree Tops was not built at the time that Neville and Jennie lived there. "I never really wanted to leave Brightwell in the first place" says Neville. "I am happy to be back!"