Harbour Church is set to welcome a new leader as the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth has appointed Rev Lewis Dean to take on the role of the team rector.
The fast-growing church was originally opened in September 2016 with just 20 members. As of now, Harbour Church welcomes over 500 worshippers every Sunday at three different locations throughout the city. Rev Dean, who was recently appointed, is to lead the team of clergy and volunteers at the Church, which now has members in St George’s Church, Portsea; All Saints Church, Commercial Road; and St Alban’s Church, Copnor. At the initial launch of the church, services were held in a refurbished department store located along Commercial Road with the intent to attract young adults, teenagers, and students.
Rev Dean comes to the church with a wealth of experience, having previously served as a curate in Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, (HTB) where he’s been since 2020. He has roles working with youths, students, and children, as well as he has anchored their leadership development programs. Once he had led the football ministry and at the moment, he is pioneering prayer.
In a statement made by the new leader, he said; “I’d become a Christian at the age of 19 after a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit, coming from a background where none of my family were churchgoers,” he said. “At that point in my life, I was manager of a sports centre and, after feeling called into church leadership, then spent five years as a youth pastor in High Wycombe before coming to London. I’ve been so fortunate to be part of HTB, with an amazing team of clergy and volunteers, learning from each other and from God. One of my roles was to help students with their wellbeing, so that was a real privilege.”
He is known for his engaging sermons and his passion for community outreach and pastoral care. The news of Rev Dean’s appointment has been warmly welcomed by members of the church and the wider community, who are looking forward to seeing the new team rector in action.
Rev Dean is set to officially begin his role at Harbour Church on 1st April, and the congregation is already planning a special welcome service to mark his arrival.
