Although he has been working as a Pastor at La Siesta Evangelical Church for over 2 years, until last week Keith Brown remained that one step away from achieving his lifetime ambition, that of becoming a fully ordained minister.
But on Saturday afternoon all that changed when the former policemen finally ended the journey that he first set out on over 50 years ago. At La Siesta Evangelical Church he was ordained into the Iglesia Evangélica Española (The Christian Church of Spain) in front of a large congregation of family, friends and invited guests, including Graham Knight, as well as Ministers from the Anglican Church, TCF and ICA. There was also representation from the Royal British Legion, the Costelleros and members of the IEE from Alicante, Valencia and Cartagena.
After a moving tribute to his wife, Fiona, who, as Church Secretary, was responsible for the recruitment of Keith and his setting out on the road to ordination, Church Elder Howard Cook introduced Pastor Abraham Garcia Rena, President of the Presbytery of Levante of the Iglesia Evangélica Española, to which the Church belongs, who got the service underway.
The ceremony itself was carried out by Pastor D. José Manuel Mochón Martín, Vice President of the Permanent Commission of the IEE, the church governing body, who travelled to Torrevieja from Malaga. He was assisted both by Pastor Abraham and Pastor Davd Manzanas Pelegrina from Alicante.
Keith has lived in Spain since 2003, and, initially was a Ministry team member within the Anglican church of St Peter and St Paul, Torrevieja which is part of the Church of England, Europe. He was originally installed as the minister and Pastor of La Siesta Evangelical Church in October 2011 at which time, according to the normal procedure of the Iglesia Evangálica Española in Madrid, he was authorised to perform all sacraments including Holy Communion, Baptisms and Wedding Blessings. Keith is, and always will be a non stipendiary Pastor.
Born in South East London in the late 1940s, Keith attended the London City Mission Chapel and accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour at the age of 12. When he was 16 Keith attended the Anglican Church helping to lead Pathfinders, a young people’s group in his local community. He has also served as a Scout leader and a Group Scout Leader in Berkshire, a civilian instructor in the Air Training Corps as well as an instructor and safety officer for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold award scheme with the Buckinghamshire County Council.
Amongst his many other duties in the area Keith is President and Chaplain of the Orihuela Costa Branch of the Royal British Legion. Keith is married to Cathy Carson, a retired professional singer. The couple have three children, a son living in Vancouver, Canada, and, two daughters living in Northamptonshire.
The Iglesia Evangélica Española was founded in 1869, it is a member of the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Methodist Council. The ordination of Keith Brown was the very first such ceremony every carried out to an English speaking congregation by the Iglesia Evangélica Española at La Siesta Church. The church itself has a Sunday School, a Youth Group, Ladies friendship Group, an excellent choir as was amply demonstrated at the ordination ceremony, and a small Brass Group. Services are held at 9.30 am on the 1st and 3rd Sundays and at 11am on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of the month, when applicable. All are welcome to attend the very friendly congregation which is made up of 9 different denominations from many parts of the United Kingdom.
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