Mark & Lydia Faithfull, Lead Pastors 

Mark and Lydia both became Christians in their teenage years. They met at a Youth For Christ training event and have been serving together ever since.

They married in 1992 and have two adult children.

They were trained in ministry and ordained by Salvation For the Nations International Churches (a member organisation of the Evangelical Alliance). Both served as pastors on the team at Herts International Church with particular responsibility for youth and children’s ministries.

Mark is a gifted preacher with the ability to make you laugh as he straightens you up. Weekdays, he runs a Cyber Security business (www.cool-waters.co.uk) and he is a founder of the Malmesbury Speakers Academy, and a board member for the Global Leadership Network UK&I. Mark is a member of the Professional Speaking Association, was awarded South West Regional Speaker of the year 2018 and was a finalist in the 2018 Speaker Factor competition.

Lydia is the founder of “Assembly Angels” - a successful Christian schools ministry - taking Christian messages to thousands of children every half term. She has been a speaker at the National Christian Resources Exhibition, has been featured on Premier Christian radio as well as had several articles published in Woman Alive magazine.

Both Mark and Lydia are gifted at teaching and God has placed a specific anointing on them to use popular culture to reach people with His kingdom message.

Originally from Hertfordshire, they moved to Malmesbury in 2010. Both received similar visions as they left Hertfordshire; God was sending them out as sparks to ignite something in Malmesbury. God's timing is perfect and now is the time. He has called for a new wineskin to be established for the new wine that he wants to pour out on this community. Hope Church is it. 

Mark and Lydia planted Hope Church in 2013 supported by Victoria and Nicholas Blackman who also served as pastors in the church. Nicholas went home to be with the Lord in January 2018.

Mark and Lydia are supported by the leadership team comprising the church elders and charity trustees: 

David & Sue Jones, Elders and Trustees

Ian Cambray-Smith, Trustee

Clare Eaton, Treasurer