St. Marks Academy emerged from within St. Marks Coventry, a thriving city centre resource church planted in 2017 from Gas Street Birmingham, and part of the HTB family. To find out more about the church, head over to St. Marks Coventry.
The Academy is now expanding to equip churches and leaders across the West Midlands and beyond.
Academy Principal
Dr. Rachel Atkinson
Rachel leads the St. Marks Academy, bringing together her love of theology and teaching with her passion for the Church. Rachel has significant experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level – she was tutor in Mission at St. Mellitus College and, prior to that, at Spurgeon’s Theological College. She continues to teach at a variety of theological colleges and churches, in biblical studies, leadership, prayer and spirituality, preaching, and mission and evangelism. She holds a Master’s degree in biblical studies and a doctorate in ministry, and recently released Image Bearers, a book rooted in pastoral theology which explores healing, wholeness, and spiritual formation.
Rachel especially enjoys acting as a ‘knowledge-broker’ – applying theological insights to practical mission, ministry, and work situations. She brings a wealth of ministry experience to the Academy, having served on the staff of St. Andrew’s Chorleywood, All Saints’ Peckham, St. Aldates Oxford, and currently, as a senior leader at St. Marks.
Academy Leader
Jonny Davies
Coventry born-and-bred. Lover of God. Pastor of people. Dreamer of seeing the church radiant. Seeker of warmer weather. Follower of Jesus’s voice. Owner of a lot of shoes. Writer. Close friend, son, brother, nephew, mentor.
Having spent many years in Manchester as a Youth Pastor, Jonny has recently returned from three years living in the US, studying and being formed at a school of ministry attached to a local church in California. Now he’s returned to his roots here in the city of Coventry, doing what he describes as ‘exactly what [he] most wants to spend time doing’ – pastoring and investing in young leaders who are impacting the church now and for the generation to come.