MEET OUR TEAM

THE REVEREND DAVID BOYD

Lead Minister

David is the lead Minister of Nelson United Church, a congregation in which ministry and leadership is shared by the whole congregation.  David came to Nelson in 1995 when Nelson United Church was formed by the amalgamation of St. Paul’s Trinity and Fairview United Churches.  Ordained in 1989, David began ministry at Matheson, Ontario, and spent 6 formative years as part of Cochrane Presbytery, Manitou Conference.
David grew up in the United Church as the son of a United Church Minister; he was born and baptized in the Hazelton, Kitsegukla and Kispiox pastoral charge, grew up in the Knox United pastoral charge in Kenora, Ontario and finished high school in the Brechin United pastoral charge in Nanaimo.  In terms of Order of Ministry within the United Church, David’s dad was ordained in the late ’50s, his grandfather in 1963 and his mother in 1993; so he has a well-grounded pedigree in the United Church.
David’s interests involve hiking, X-country skiing, and biking in this beautiful part of BC, music, poetry, writing, and hanging out.  David has taken two sabbaticals, one with the Iona Community in Scotland and another a pilgrimage to Palestine and Israel, Istanbul and Mount Everest.  He has a grown-up family and is married to Janet.

ROBYN LAMB

Minister Of Music

Robyn grew up in Nelson and has been studying piano and voice for almost thirty years. An alumnus of many summer youth theatre programs, she continues to act and sing in many local productions and has been the musical director for a large number of shows: some of her favourites include Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, Songs for a New World, Rock of Ages and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
She has studied voice and piano for well over half of her life and is so grateful to be able to teach and learn from the NUC congregation. When not yelling about singing enthusiastically, Robyn enjoys travelling, cooking, and playing many board games.
The organizations Robyn has worked for include: The Nelson Opera Society, Nelson History Theatre, Amy Ferguson Institute, The Capitol Theatre, The Dance Umbrella, Nelson Youth Theatre.

NICOLE PURVIS

Youth and Family Coordinator

Nicole joined us in August 2020 as the Youth and Family coordinator during the COVID-19 time to creatively engage with church families and children. 
“I am devoted to working with families and to helping adults and children find developmentally appropriate games, songs, stories, rhymes, crafts, and toys to use in their every day. Sharing simple, inexpensive direct experiences…”
She brings a wealth of experience with families and children from her position as a Family Program Facilitator at Kootenay Kids Society, as a facilitator of the “Mother Goose Program” at Columbia Basin Alliance for Literature (CBAL). Nicole helped develop the Kootenay Kids’ Rainbow Families and LGBTQ+ parent and youth support groups.

DEBBIE BARTLETT

Church Administrator

“Debbie in the Office” was the secretary for the church for many years before she left in 2004. In the meantime, she worked in a variety of administrative positions in Prince Rupert and Edmonton before moving to a small village in Quebec three years ago. She was keen to return to BC and especially Nelson for which she still has a great affinity. She resumed her duties in October 2020.