Meet the Team

Leadership Team

The Community of the Tree of Life is a Diocesan project with the Bishop of Leicester as its Abbot. The Abbot has appointed a leadership team comprising of a Community Leader, Associate Community Leader and Operations Manager to share in the life of the Community and live by its common rule.

Josh, Operations Manager

Josh and Emma live at the community house with their 4 year old daughter Ella. The Crick de Boom's moved to Leicester in December 2019 when Josh started working as the Bishop of Leicester's Research Assistant. During this time they got involved with the community and explored becoming companions. Emma is the Reconciliation Enabler for Coventry Diocese, working in partnership with The Reconciling Leaders Network, Lambeth Palace.

Josh comes from Essex, where he grew up in a large family. Josh found his own faith at L'abri fellowship in the UK in 2008. Since then he has been exploring different ways of living in Christian community, something he is deeply passionate about. After completing his theological studies, Josh spent a year as a research intern with Tim Chester. He and Emma then moved to Bristol, where they worked with a fledgling Church plant and got involved in a Christian community house network. They helped develop rhythms of prayer, worship and discipleship.

In December 2018, Josh & Emma felt like it was time to leave and went on an adventure as a family to Switzerland, to live and help out at L'abri fellowship. They were there for six months discerning God's ministry for them and returned to UK and shortly after arrived in Leicester.

Josh is a bit of a theology nerd, a coffee fanatic and a foodie, he enjoys cooking and playing silly games with Ella. If ever your in the city Centre and want a brew and a chat about Soren Kierkegaard, Josh is your man!

Anna

Anna moved to Leicester when she joined the Community as an intern in 2020. In her first year, Anna worked as a House of Prayer intern. She then stayed on another year working part time for the Lay Community of St Benedict and service one day a week in Tree of Life as the Prayer and Media Lead. This year, she is part of the leadership team in her role as Associate Community Leader.

Before moving to Leicester, Anna was studying for a Masters in English Literature at Cardiff university. While in Cardiff, she worked with a group of course mates on establishing a magazine for Welsh arts and Literature, Nawr, which she is still involved with from afar.

Anna is passionate about social justice and how strengthening local communities, and particularly church communities, can enable positive changes. Anna has developed a love for mysticism and contemplative spirituality which shapes much of her personal prayer life.

She also love cycling, climbing, reading and visiting art galleries.

Julie

Julie lives in in the small village of Pickwell, Leicester. She was ordained in 1993 and in 1994 Priested alongside many women who had waited years for the Church to accept their ministry. Most of her licensed ministry has been in Peterborough Diocese, where she worked with rural parishes, vocations, foodbank and Bishop’s Chaplaincy. Julie has had various roles within Spiritual Direction and helped set up of a spirituality stream.

Julie serves the Community in the role of Chaplain. For Julie, this means tp learn from those I come alongside, to loiter with intent, listening and developing a pastoral role that will embrace whatever comes along. She will be physically part of the house Community, at least two days a week, but always remaining fully mindful of this praying Community. Julie will also be journeying with the dispersed Companion Community and is our independent person for safeguarding.