I have been brought up in the Christian faith.  My parents felt it was important to take my two sisters and myself to Church when we were all children.  We often went to Sunday school and worshipped between St Edward's the confessor in the Market place, Romford and St Andrews - a High Anglo Catholic Church just outside the town centre (both Church of England).

As a family we finally settled on the small sister church of St Andrews (St Agnes).  A school friend of mine was serving as an altar boy at St Agnes and continued to ask me to do the same.  Eventually the priest asked me if I wanted to serve at the local church and I accepted.  I served on the altar for about six/seven years and in that time felt I was developing a growing relationship with God. 

For a number of personal reasons I decided I wanted to quit serving on the altar and left the church.  It was a difficult decision and I found myself not worshipping at church for over a year.  I had a number of questions about my faith, about God and my religion.

Whilst in the Sixth form at St Edward’s School (Church of England Comprehensive), the school decided to start using St Chad’s in nearby Chadwell health.  We had till then only used my former churches of St Edwards and St Andrews for school services.  The priest gave a sermon about young people who were leaving church and not coming back!  The sermon touched me and I went back to St Chad’s to attend an evening service.  I was struck by everyone’s warmth and friendliness and started going back to church, attending St Chad’s regularly.   

In the sixth form at St Edwards School I was studying A-Level Christian Theology whilst starting to attend a new youth group at St Chad’s titled ‘no compromise’.  I studied into my faith through my A-Level subject and asked a number of questions at church regarding the Christian faith.  I eventually found the answers I sought for and found my Christian faith in God once again growing strong. 

Whilst at St Chad’s I went on to help lead the no compromise bible studies, occasionally I lead part of the evening celebrations and even preached a couple of sermons!  I joined the Barking & Dagenham Deanery Synod and automatically became a member of the St Chad’s Parochial Church Council.  Also I ran the Church website for a couple of years. 

As I was continuing to become more involved with the Conservative Party I came across the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF).  I became a member of the CCF and they started up their own youth wing and have held several weekends away, which I have been on.  Also they produce their own magazine and send out regular emails.  I find it encouraging being able to meet and correspond with other Christians in the Conservative Party.

Without a strong Christian faith I doubt I would have remained in politics for very long.  It can be a difficult existence and we live in a world broken by sin. We all face the pressures that life can throw at us.  No Christian is without sin and we rely on God to change our hearts and minds, forgiving us our wrongs, teaching us to forgive others and helping us to mend our ways.  My faith in Christ is that he is my Lord and my saviour.  I believe my involvement with politics is one way of serving Christ and demonstrating god’s love and compassion for others.