Meet Our Clergy

Revd Sarah-Jane King - Chaplain
Originally from North East England, Sarah-Jane lived in Oxford, Leiden and Florence before settling in Belgium. She did not grow up in a Christian family and came to faith as a student. Sarah-Jane later also studied theology at KUL and did her further training at St Mellitus College in London with an MA in Christian Leadership. Before ordination, she served in various legal, policy and management roles in government and the European Commission. Her interests are theologies of power and justice, resilience and wellbeing, pioneer ministry and outreach, Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer. She is married with two children, and she likes walking and singing.
Revd. Prof. Hector Patmore
Hector is an Associate Professor in Biblical Studies at the KU Leuven and a priest in the Diocese in Europe. Once an atheist, it was the study of theology and the beauty of worship at Durham Cathedral that helped him find his way back to God. After Durham, Hector studied at Oxford, where he trained for ordained ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon. He was ordained deacon in Llandaff and priest in Jerusalem. He welcomes the opportunity to put his academic training to the service of the wider church and finds joys in gathering with fellow pilgrims around Christ’s table.

The Chaplaincy Council

​Our church is governed by two councils, the Chaplaincy Council and Kerkraad.
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Meet our Chaplaincy Council! The parish administration in relation to the Church of England is undertaken by these wonderful members. If there is anything you wish to bring to the attention of the church council, please contact the secretary.
Revd Sarah-Jane King - Chaplain
Originally from North East England, Sarah-Jane lived in Oxford, Leiden and Florence before settling in Belgium. She did not grow up in a Christian family and came to faith as a student. Sarah-Jane later also studied theology at KUL and did her further training at St Mellitus College in London with an MA in Christian Leadership. Before ordination, she served in various legal, policy and management roles in government and the European Commission. Her interests are theologies of power and justice, resilience and wellbeing, pioneer ministry and outreach, Ignatian spirituality and contemplative prayer. She is married with two children, and she likes walking and singing.

Sarah Jones - Churchwarden, Lay Vice-Chair of the Chaplaincy Council, and Safeguarding Officer 
Sarah is a PE and psychology teacher at a large international school. She is training to be a licensed lay minister and is one of our churchwardens, she enjoys exploring different musical styles as part of our worship. Away from church she enjoys hiking, camping and watching sport, in particular cricket.

Lydia Patmore - Churchwarden 
Lydia moved to Belgium in 2019 with her young family after a decade of living and working in the Middle East and western Europe.
A museum curator by training, since moving abroad, Lydia has worked within the education sector supporting international students in their studies and for the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. Within the M&M's community Lydia is church warden and part of the 'M&M's Kidz' team providing ministry to the church's younger members.

Karen Papellero - Secretary and Archdeaconry Synod Representative
Karen is a researcher in trauma theology and postcolonial experience. She is pursuing a PhD in theology and religious studies at KU Leuven. Originally from Cebu, the Philippines, she now lives in Leuven with her husband and lovely cat. She enjoys reading in cafes, walking in nature, and watching funny cat videos. She also likes to listen to people's stories. ​

Andrew Wiersum – Treasurer
​Andrew is an R&D engineer in the petrochemical industry. Part British and part Dutch, Andrew grew up and studied in various countries around the world before moving to Belgium for work in 2013. Andrew is married with two young children and in his spare time he enjoys travelling, playing and watching sports and reading books. Within the M&M's community Andrew is Treasurer and helps out with M&Ms Kidz.

Filipe Francisco - Archdeaconry Synod Representative
​Filipe Francisco is a lawyer that feels like a theologian and a theologian that feels like a lawyer. Originally from Brazil, he moved to Europe 05 years ago to enhance his skills and serve people around the world. First living in Portugal, he finished a Research Master's in Fundamental Rights at the University of Lisbon, where his research focused on the conflicts of values in the Public Sphere, applying the idea of the common good of religion as a system of belief and as a tool to contribute to public dialogue. Currently, he is completing a second Research Master's in Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven, researching the interconnection of the book of Deuteronomy as a sort of model of Constitutional Jurisdiction to the interpretation of Scripture in the 21 century. Recently, he has begun an internship at M&M's to discern his vocation for the priesthood. He has been impacted on how to love and let himself be loved more deeply by God through M&M's community.
He loves to spend his free time walking in nature, taking pictures, watching tv shows, reading books and playing chess and Zelda.

Rebecca Breekveldt 
​Rebecca currently works as a freelance translator and copywriter.
After living in many different countries, she and her husband have made Leuven their home for the next few years and have greatly enjoyed becoming part of M&M’s welcoming community.
When she is not at the computer working and answering emails, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen, curled up with tea and a good book, or exploring the great outdoors by bike or on foot.

Roshni Jegan
​Roshni was born in India, moved to Belgium 4 years ago and has immensely enjoyed the experience of living here. M&Ms has been a second home to her for the last year and a half, and it’s been her privilege to be part of the welcoming team. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Bioethics at KU Leuven. She enjoys long walks, nature, baking, all things crafty and hanging out with her cats.

​Jesu Spurgen - Electoral Roll Officer
​Jesu, a R&D engineer at a consulting firm, hails from India but now calls a quaint town outside Leuven, home. He's delighted to be part of the M&M's community, a place he finds warm and welcoming.
Jesu enjoys taking a stroll in town, travelling to far-flung places, preparing delicious fish curries, and singing low-pitched tunes.

The Kerkraad

Meet our Kerkraad! The civil administration of our church in relation to the City of Leuven is undertaken by Dutch-speaking members.

Revd Canon Alan Strange - President 
Alan lives in Leuven, and was Chaplain to the Church of England’s Bishop in Europe until his retirement in 2024. He served at Holy Trinity Brussels in the early 1990s, where he met and married Natalie; they have two grown-up children.

Andrew Wiersum – Treasurer 
​Andrew is an R&D engineer in the petrochemical industry. Part British and part Dutch, Andrew grew up and studied in various countries around the world before moving to Belgium for work in 2013. Andrew is married with two young children and in his spare time he enjoys travelling, playing and watching sports and reading books. Within the M&M's community Andrew is Treasurer and helps out with M&Ms Kidz.

Cornelieke Boot - Secretary 
​Cornelieke lives in Leuven and works as a Dutch teacher. In 2015 she moved from the Netherlands to Belgium. Cornelieke is married and she enjoys reading, playing recorders and listening to stories.

Brendan Pousett
Brendan came to Leuven in 2022 to pursue a PhD. in Robotics from KU Leuven (a very relevant field of study to be on a church council). He was born and raised in Surrey, Canada, and has three older siblings, or role models, who were integral to the development of his faith in his teenage years. After moving to Europe, Brendan and his wife Kayla were delighted to find the M&M's community, which has been a consistent joy amidst the struggles of settling in to a new home.
He enjoys experiencing God's creation on hiking trips with his brothers and dad, exploring European cities with Kayla, and learning new recipes. Kayla and Brendan are also known at M&Ms for their excessively large water bottles.

Mathias Weikl - Environmental Officer
​Originally from Austria, Mathias studied Theology in Belfast before starting his Research Master’s in Theology at KU Leuven in 2021. Through conversations at M&M’s, he has become interested in how the Christian faith relates to the Ecological Crisis. He enjoys talking theology, reading and listening to
music. Having grown up in the mountains of Austria, Mathias also enjoys spending time being active in the outdoors, biking, climbing, or running.

Xinyi Tang - Website Manager
​Xinyi was born and raised in Haimen, a small city near Shanghai. She moved to Leuven in the autumn of 2021 with her husband, Zhunlin. ​With a background in philosophy and digital humanities, she will soon begin her studies in theology at KU Leuven. Xinyi enjoys reading, watching films, and cooking with Zhunlin.