Who We Are
We are seeking to be a Christ-centred community,
WHAT MATTERS TO US AS A CHURCH
Our Team
Darryl Soh
Lead Pastor
Darryl has been the lead pastor of Abbotsford Presbyterian since the start of 2019. Darryl grew up on the North Shore but has lived in the Inner West for the past 20 years. In a previous life, he was an IT auditor for a Big 4 Accounting firm for 7 years and was previously the associate minister at Drummoyne Presbyterian Church for 10 years prior to coming to Abbotsford. Darryl is married to Edwina and they have two daughters. Darryl is loving having his day job of sharing the great news of Jesus with people in a whole heap of different contexts. Darryl also enjoys hanging out with his family, playing basketball and tennis.
Joe Carey
Assistant Pastor
Joe is from the great city of New Plymouth in New Zealand, together with his wife, Vanessa and his three boys. We have moved to Sydney to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, through studying at Christ College and Interning at Abbotsford Presbyterian Church. His goal is to be equipped as a Gospel Minister and return to New Zealand to continue to work with the Grace Presbyterian church when we are ready. Previously Joe has worked as a classroom primary teacher, where his passion for family pastoral ministry began.
Becky Padgett
Youth Pastor
Becky joined the team in 2023, new to the role of Youth Pastor. A public health worker and dietitian in a previous life, she loves walking alongside people and hearing their stories and has a passion for everyone to know their identity in Jesus. Becky studied Intercultural Studies in combination with a cross cultural internship in West Asia, working at a community centre for people who are refugees. In her downtime Becky enjoys singing in her choir or you might see her running the Bay Run.
Matt Tan
Ministry Intern
Matt is currently interning at Abbotsford Presbyterian Church, whilst studying full time at Christ College. Previous to this he was at a church in the Eastern Suburbs, where he grew up. In his past life, Matt was an External Auditor, working in the city. During this time he felt the internal tension between secular work (which is right and good) and full-time vocational work, which eventually led him to study at Christ College. In his spare time, he likes to play basketball, watch movies, play games and enjoy a good coffee with good company. He is married to Ika and they have a daughter.
The Ministry Team
Karen Astles
Growth Groups
Astrid Sampson
Kids Church
Rachel Norman
Mainly Music
Tim Hatfield
AM Music Ministry
Hector Franklin
PM Music Ministry
Amy Kern
Meals Ministry
Frederik Theron
Treasurer & Committee of Management
Derek Bebbington
Committee of Management
Gillian McPherson
Committee of Management
Seamus Theron
Bookkeeper
Our Story
The First Gathering…
Of Presbyterians in Abbotsford was at the historic Abbotsford House in 1891. Subsequently, the church gathered in Renwick Hall which now stands behind the church, and the current church building was opened in 1929. We have had a long presence on the peninsula. If you join us one Sunday you will find a warm, welcoming, supportive, cross-generational community endeavouring to love and honour God by the way we live.
Our Core Values
1. BIBLE
We are committed to biblical Christ-centred teaching and to be a people shaped by HIs Word and His grace found in the gospel.
2. PRAYER
We are committed to being a people dependent on God through prayer in all aspects of our lives.
3. COMMUNITY
We are committed to being an inclusive, caring, loving and cross generational Christ-centred community, as we live integrated lives, in deep relationship with one another.
4. GROWTH
We are committed to reorienting our lives around Jesus, partnering with Him to continue to grow and be transformed to be more like Him.
5. REACH
We are committed to seeing God’s kingdom grow here in Abbotsford and beyond where more people come into a living relationship with Jesus.