People
At just 17 years old, Max Stenner is believed to be the youngest person ever to found and lead a political think tank in the United Kingdom. In 2025, he launched Christian Democracy UK, dedicated to renewing Britain’s political and cultural life through Christian principles, traditionalist conservatism, and the social teachings of the Church.
Max first entered the political arena at the age of 15, when he successfully managed six campaigns in the 2024 General Election, demonstrating both leadership and strategic ability well beyond his years. A practicing Evangelical Christian, born-again in 2019, he has since devoted himself to articulating a vision that unites traditionalist conservatism with economic distributism, communitarian principles, and the wider tradition of Christian social thought.
Alongside his political work, Max is a two-time award-winning public speaker with Rotary International, having been named Dorset Youth Speaker of the Year in both 2022 and 2024. His public speaking combines intellectual seriousness with moral conviction, seeking to inspire audiences to think anew about Britain’s future.
He is also active in the New Culture Forum think tank and a member of Reform UK. Through Christian Democracy UK, he hopes to build a new movement rooted in faith, justice, and the common good.
Max Stenner - Chair
Ken Petrie was born in Romford, Essex, and has dedicated his life to the service of both faith and community. With technical qualifications in Electronics, Radio and Television, and Digital Electronics, alongside a BA (Hons) in Theological Studies, Ken brings together a unique blend of practical skill and theological insight.
His career has been diverse, spanning retail, Christian charity work, call centres, radio and TV maintenance, and web design, before retiring. Alongside his professional life, Ken has been a committed writer and editor, publishing for EvenAs.org, an organisation dedicated to Christian unity, as well as running the Diverse Diversity Campaign and his personal blog Pulling Together.
Ken’s church service within the Church of England has been extensive. He has served faithfully on Parochial Church Councils, Deanery and Diocesan Synods, and was a Bishop’s Councillor from 2001 to 2015. He now serves as Churchwarden at St Andrew’s Hartcliffe in Bristol, continuing his longstanding commitment to parish life and lay leadership.
Ken Petrie - Deputy Chair
Ashley Davies is a student and writer from Cornwall, serving as one of the policy leads at Christian Democracy UK. Coming from a working-class Anglo-Celtic and West Indian background, he brings both a deeply rooted local perspective and a strong concern for the wider renewal of Christian culture in Britain.
Alongside his studies, Ashley writes regularly on his Substack, where he explores post-liberal politics, distributism, Thomism, and Catholic social teaching, with a particular focus on the moral foundations of economics and society. As a committed Catholic, he combines formal academic study with wide self-directed research in philosophy, theology, and political thought.
Ashley’s work is dedicated to recovering a vision of politics grounded in the common good, the dignity of labour, and the Christian heritage of the United Kingdom. This conviction underpins his involvement in Christian Democracy UK, where he seeks to contribute to a programme of cultural and political renewal.
Ashley Davies - Policy Lead
Samuel Turner - Editor
Samuel Turner is the Editor of the Christian Democracy UK blog, Faith in Freedom.
He is currently studying for an MA in Newspaper Journalism and works as a freelance writer. A committed Christian and member of Reform UK, Samuel brings both political insight and media experience to the team.
He is also a contributor to Spiked magazine, where he writes on culture, politics, and society.
Maxim Shelmerdine - Deputy Editor
Maxim Shelmerdine is the Deputy Editor for Christian Democracy. He is a home-schooled writer and aspiring conservative activist.
He has an interest in architecture, music, and human psychology, notably how physical fitness, beautiful environments, and artwork affect the human brain, and how individual self-improvement could improve the collective morality, fairness, and general well-being of society as a whole.