The Rev Greg Peisley became the new curate-in-charge of the recently renamed Pitt Town Anglican Community Church on August 30.

Mr Peisley (pictured with his wife, Sue) has been the assistant chaplain at Arndell Anglican College (AAC) since 2002.

This role consisted of leading the two Arndell Anglican Community Church (AACC) Sunday congregations at AAC.

Mr Peisley planted the AACC at AAC in May 2000 with a core group of 15 adults when he was assistant minister at St John’s, Wilberforce.

“Everybody worked very hard to see people from the college come under the gospel,” Mr Peisley says.

An additional 6pm service was started at AAC in 2004.

Mr Peisley has unofficially been functioning as acting rector of Pitt Town since June after previous curate-in-charge the Rev John Gaunt concluded his ministry there.

However, AACC and the parish of Pitt Town have had a close working relationship since the end of 2007 when AACC’s evening service was relocated from AAC to the St James’, Pitt Town church building.

AACC’s evening congregation merged with Pitt Town’s small evening congregation and Mr Peisley led the congregation with Mr Gaunt's encouragement.

Now that Mr Peisley is the curate-in-charge of Pitt Town he will run a traditional 9am morning service at St James', Pitt Town and continue to run the 10:15am family service at AAC as well as the evening service at Pitt Town.

Eyes opening to college church

Mr Peisley says being part of Pitt Town will greatly increase his church’s potential for outreach into the community.

“One of the struggles of our ministry at Arndell Anglican College is that we have had little contact with the outside community. No one just ‘drops in’. All those we have seen come to know the Lord have been people’s personal contacts, mostly from the college community,” he says.

“Since we have merged with Pitt Town in an acting capacity we have seen more outside contact then ever before. Pitt Town still has a village atmosphere that helps us as we seek to be seen as a part of the community.”

Mr Peisley is excited about the future opportunities in store for his church.

“The exciting thing about our merger is the people resources we now have access too. As Pitt Town sees the beginning of a new housing development of 750 new homes only walking distance from the church site who knows what God has in store for us?”

Mr Peisley also plans to employ a full-time family and children’s worker for 2009.

“There are so many preschools and primary schools in our area for us to connect with, both the children and their families. Please pray that God will give growth as we plant and water the gospel in this place.”