Meet the team

Andrew Goldsmith

Senior Pastor

Andrew moved to Ampthill in 2013, having previously been in ministry for 7 years at Ruislip Baptist Church. Andrew is married to Nicola and they have two children. Andrew grew up near Oxford and trained as a mechanical engineer, working in the area of medical engineering (designing replacement hip and knee joints). Following a period in church leadership he studied theology at the London School of Theology, before joining the team at Ruislip. He enjoys the ‘great outdoors’, reading, swimming, theology, films and curry. Andrew wants people to know Jesus and grow in their faith, and is committed to connecting people with Christ through opening up and applying the Bible.

He has written several books which can be found on Amazon including Words of Life, Formation Groups, Big Questions, and Bomb Disposal: Dealing with the Seven Deadly Sins.

Andrew is also a member of the Four Counties Gospel Partnership, a network to encourage ministry and churches rooted in the gospel.

Shaggy Abdon Shortley

Associate Pastor

Before moving to Ampthill in March 2017, Shaggy was previously at Harrow Baptist Church as a pastoral worker and then spent 10 years at Milton Baptist Church (Weston-super-Mare) where she eventually became Associate Minister in 2014. Originally from the Philippines , Shaggy moved to the UK and spent a few years studying theology at the London School of Theology. She is mad about animals, enjoys crocheting, walking, playing the ukulele & mountain dulcimer (badly!), and eating Japanese food. She is married to Martyn (an Englishman) and they have a rather large greyhound! Shaggy is passionate to see the gathered church – fed and strengthened by God’s word on a Sunday; and the scattered church – faithfully living out their calling in Christ every single day of the week. [Shaggy is on adoption leave from 22/04/24]

Judith Coen

Children’s Worker

Judith grew up in Hertfordshire, studied in Liverpool and, after a few years in Luton, has lived in Ampthill since 1998. She is married to Bernard and has 3 children and 3 cats. Her main hobby is amateur dramatics and she can often be seen treading the boards in Hitchin. She also enjoys cooking, socialising and visiting her children who are now scattered across the country. With a background in piano and drama teaching and support work in schools, she is now thrilled to be able to share Jesus’ love with children and their families on a daily basis, and longs for them to get closer to Him and to know that He wants to be a part of their lives.