Ben and Gale Dowding
Ben and Gale Dowding are the Senior Ministers of Influence Church across all our locations. Having met while studying at college in Darlington, they live in Richmond, where they were married in 2001 and have two boys, Asher and Noah.
They have been leading Influence Church (formally Richmond Pentecostal Church) since 2008. In that time the Church has grown significantly across multiple locations, across the North of England, including Richmond, Barnard Castle, Penrith and Bishop Auckland.
Ben and Gale are both passionate about the North of England and building a relevant, growing and influential Church that sees the purposes of God fulfilled across the region. It is their heart as leaders to help build a Church that enables people to encounter God and equips them to be a positive influence for the kingdom of God through their lives.
After their love for family, people and the local Church, they also have a strong love for reading, good food and great coffee.
Pastor Ben is an accredited minister with Assemblies of God (AOG) and has a role as a Zone Leader for AOG in the North of England, having a voice into Churches across the North East and Cumbria.
Campus Pastors
Across each of our locations we have Campus Pastors who are responsible for helping to advance the vision of Influence Church. These are local leaders who are passionate about our Church, are committed to their town and provide pastoral care for their community.
Richmond
Richard and Sophie McGuinness
Barnard Castle
Jonny and Madeleine
Foster
Penrith
Ed Winbow
Bishop Auckland
Dan and Hannah Hoyle