GOD IS HERE. WE ARE LOVED.

“The Worship Foundation serves the Church in the Theological, Spiritual and Pastoral formation of worship leaders.

”Through our coaching, teaching and strategic partnerships we hope to contribute to the healthy future of the contemporary worship culture and help father the next generation of worship pastors that will serve the Church in the years to come.” ”

— Neil Bennetts. C.E.O. The Worship Foundation

The Worship Foundation is based in Cheltenham and has a focus on working with local churches and worship leaders in the Gloucestershire and surrounding region. The Worship Foundation is also building partnerships with a number of national church movements and organisations in order to serving their vision for worship and worship pastor training and coaching.

“Neil’s many years of experience leading worship and raising up new worship leaders is an absolute goldmine.... a mentor, a friend, a teacher, some one with a heart for the church and a passion for the kingdom.”

— Alfred Nygren, Worship Pastor, Stockholm, Sweden

“Neil is one of the most outright visionaries I know, always seeing the potential in people rather than their present ability. He demonstrates true leadership by giving opportunities to worship leaders with various experiences and from multiple backgrounds and generations. I admire how Neil never failed to encourage me in my worship leading: in my authority as a female leader, in my confidence to follow the Holy Spirit, and that’s it’s okay to make mistakes.”

— Susie Woodbridge, Worship Leader, Los Angeles

The C.E.O. of the Worship Foundation is Neil Bennetts.

As a Worship Leader, Songwriter, Theologian and Author, Neil has over 30 years experience both in the local church as well nationally and internationally through worship leading, speaking, teaching and training, and has 20 years experience as a worship pastor. As part of New Wine he pioneered their national worship ministry NewWineWorship and led worship for 10 years at their summer conferences.

A theology masters graduate through WTC, Neil has also co-authored a book on worship, Now to Him with Simon Ponsonby, and written many songs for the local church, including O Perfect Love, Name Above All Names, The King Has Come, Great Redeemer and Speak To This Heart. Part of the New Wine family, Neil also has worked on over 20 worship releases as an artist, writer, and executive producer.

As a teacher and coach, Neil has a huge passion to see worship leaders and worship pastors reach their full potential, growing theologically, spiritually and pastorally in their gifting and leadership in the local church.

“Neil’s understanding of worship is both theologically and spiritually deep, bringing a needed reformation to our modern worship culture. ”

— Sakari Heikkilä. Worship Pastor, Finland

“Neil is an important voice in today’s worship & leadership landscape. He is an experienced worship practitioner, a sharp theological thinker and a man of integrity.”

— Chris Sayburn, Church Planter and Leader of New Wine Worship

The Worship Foundation Family

neil bennetts

Born in Harrow, educated in Winchester, lived and worked in Norwich and Cheltenham, I love football - a keen amateur player and a Norwich City season ticket holder in my younger years. I am a golf addict - a current member at Cotswold Hills golf club.

Being involved at the start of new initiatives, working in teams and creating partnerships excites and fires me. Building out of relationship, continually learning, challenging the status- quo and seeing others fly all motivate me. Having fun along the way is essential.

Times of peace and quiet, periods of study, rounds of golf and walking the family dog all refresh me. Music runs through our family - piano, flute, clarinet, guitar and saxophone. Susie, my wife, works part-time for a local school. My children between them love music, laughing uncontrollably, films, drama and traveling to new places. Africa changed all of our lives.

chloe anderson

I love people, creation, looking after children, walking in the rain, having long conversations with dear friends, eating breakfast, praying for people, worshipping, and basically anything creative. I lived in many places until my family settled in Winchester in 2007. Christchurch Winchester was my spiritual home for many years. I then went to Uganda to work with the diocese of Muhabura, Kisoro, Uganda in 2014, before moving to Cheltenham to study on the Worship Central Academy.

As one theologian once said – a prophet ‘sees a different world and speaks a different word’. This quote has both comforted and inspired me in my walk so far. As a child of God, loved by the creator of the heavens and earth, I get to be a part of communicating the things that the Father sees to others. I use my gift as often as I can, ensuring I try to be firmly rooted in the word and obedient, offering it up with gentleness, compassion, and discernment.

jimmy flanders

Jimmy is currently a consultant audio and visual technician, working on both Festival and Corporate work around the UK. Jimmy is also worship leader and songwriter and currently serves on the worship team at St Paul’s Cheltenham.

rhiannon davies

Rhiannon is a worship leader and violinist who originates from Wales. Rhiannon is the Creative Pastor at St Andrew’s Churchdown, where she also serves as one of the worship pastors.

The Worship Foundation Trustees

david lynch

In 2013, David took early retirement from a global insurance group after working for nearly 30 years, predominantly on project work, ranging from IT systems to complex financial projects. At the same time, David served on the council of Trinity, Cheltenham for over 20 years, and was a Church Warden for over 10 years, during which time he sat on the leadership team of Trinity and acted as Operations Director as well as many other roles.

Since leaving the leadership of Trinity, David continues to serve as a trustee of New Wine and has acted as a steward for the Gloucester Diocese Development Fund. Much of his time is taken by being a founding director of Fresh Hope, a new charity which seeks to see communities united and transformed, radiating hope and compassion by God's love, and seeks to inspire and support those who have, to give, so that those in need can receive and unite local Christians through serving the community together

David lives in Cheltenham, is married to Kath and they have 3 adult children.

NEIL DRAKE

Neil is Managing Director of Reliance Energy Limited, an EIS vehicle that provides professional services to energy companies who seek to develop embedded generation assets.

Neil has also acted as a National level spokesperson for EDF, led influencing initiatives with Ofgem, Defra and DECC and represented EDF Group on the international stage as part of the World Resources Institute’s working group on carbon accounting.

A person of faith for nearly 20 years, his passion is helping people understand how significant their impact on the world can be. Neil is married with one daughter.