Beulah United Reformed Church
Rhiwbina, Cardiff

Part of the Cardiff & Penarth United Reformed Church Pastorate

Flowing Streams, Bringing Life

David & Martha Profile

David Dean was born in Georgia, USA, into a traditional Baptist family. Following university, David moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to train for ministry. David then embarked on interim ministry work and worked for an AIDS organisation in North Carolina.

Martha McInnes was born in Iowa, USA, but spent her childhood in Northern California and Kentucky. Martha did not grow up in the church, but felt a call to ministry during university and returned to Louisville to train for ministry, where she met David. Following her training she worked as a hospital chaplain and it was in that time that David and Martha married and found the United Church of Christ as a faith home.

Following their ordination into the UCC in 1990, they worked together in a small town in North Carolina where a friend encouraged them to think about a call to the URC.

In May 1993, they visited the Wirral and were called to two churches there, Prenton URC and St. George’s URC. In 1999, David was called to be the Free Church chaplain at Aston University and shortly afterwards Martha was called to Sutton Coldfield URC.

After some time in the West Midlands, in 2005, Martha and David, and their daughters Hannah and Amelia decided to return to the USA. David was called to a campus ministry in Florida and Martha become the director of a small charity for homeless families.

Life changed again in 2011 when the family decided to return back to the UK. Hannah was already back in the UK at university when David was called to work with an interfaith organisation in Leicester, the St. Phillip’s Centre. David was also called to a small congregation in Leicester. Martha became the minister of Wellingborough URC.

When David’s role in the St Phillip’s Centre ended, he became a Preacher with a View Weekend chaplain at Northampton General Hospital. Recently, Martha had taken a post as a hospice chaplain.

David makes regular pilgrimages to Taize and both David and Martha have been to Iona a number of times. David loves the Bible and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others through Bible studies. Martha is a trained spiritual director.

They feel their ministries have always been about working with others to enhance the spiritual life of the local church and connect with people, inside and outside the church.

Because Martha grew up in Northern California, she never minds a cloudy or rainy day. On the other hand, neither of them mind a British Summer, no matter how hot or humid it seems.

David is an avid football fan, supporting Tranmere Rovers through thick and thin. Martha enjoys a variety of crafts and recently discovered making fused glass pieces. Both enjoy exploring new places and spending time with family and friends.

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