Rev. G.W. “Blake” Blakesley, Senior Pastor

Blake was born in Des Moines, Iowa. His father was a civil engineer who built schools and hospitals. His mother is a former nurse who spent much of her career as a homemaker and then as a librarian in the public schools. He was named after his father, his grandfather and other Georges in the family, but has always claimed “Blake” as his name of choice.

He received his BA from Grinnell College and his M.Div. from Christian Theological Seminary. Before coming to Newtown in 1995, Blake served churches in Indianapolis and West Lafayette,Indiana and  Scotch Ridge and Indianola, Iowa.

Blake currently serves as the Past Moderator of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, as a member of the Permanent Judicial Council of the Presbytery, Chairman of the NFog Design Team of Presbytery, a member of the Interfaith Middle East Group, and as the president of the Newtown Ministerium Meeting. In his spare time, he enjoys analyzing movies, tent camping, song leading, and playing in an Irish/Celtic band, The Boys of County Bucks.

Blake’s wife, Lynn, is the head of the Family and Consumer Science Department of Pennsbury School District. Together, they have three children: Josh, a pastor in the United Church of Christ in Southeast Pennsylvania; Elisabeth, the manager of the Des Moines Area Religious Council food bank’ and Benjamin, a social media consultant and an independent sound producer in Douglassville, PA. The Blakesleys also have 2 granddaughters, Isabell and Caroline, and 3 grandsons, Wilco and George (another George!), and Henry.

For over 30 years, Lynn and Blake have been blessed to lead summer mission work trips to Mexico, Alaska, South Dakota, Florida, Maine, Boston, Nova Scotia, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Iowa and Kentucky.  As many as 160 youth and adults have participated, working to provide better housing and education.

Contact Rev. G.W. “Blake” Blakesley