Paul Sparrey - Youth Worker
As a baby my Christian parents took me along to their local church in North London , and from about the age of four, I made a commitment to Christ. I married in May 1999 and we moved to Oxfordshire. After various relocations and three children later we’re now back in Oxfordshire. As a teenager I studied 3-Dimensional design for four years, but ended up with various jobs not in the least bit connected with design. I have now found the best job in the world – youth work, and have been in this field of work for over six years. I recently received my ‘National Certificate in Youth Work' after completing the Centre For Youth Ministry’s – 'Engage!’ course, based at Cambridge
Roger Scammell - Church secretary
I didn't visit church much in my early life, but came into contact with Wallingford Baptist Church through the Wallingford Executive Resources Club in 1991,after a series of redundancies. My wife, Angela, went on an Alpha course in 1998 and I followed the next year and was baptised in November 2000. I fix computers and printers for a living. Nowadays I work from home for a company headquartered in Newbury, but I am involved in a fair amount of travel. I am a bit of a DIY person, do a bit of gardening, and read lots when I can. Angela and I have two grown-up daughters.
David Tole - Church treasurer
I started attending Wallingford Baptist Church in 2007, having moved from Nottingham for work reasons. I've been married to Rachel (who works as the grants manager of the Baptist Union of Great Britain based in Didcot) for almost 30 years and we have two grown-up children, who live in Liverpool and York. Being treasurer is my first experience of church leadership, although I have spent many years leading housegroups and as a youth leader.
David Bright - Deacon with responsibility for outreach and mission
In was born in Aldershot , Hampshire and grew up there. I came from a non-church-going family and, shall we say, I had a colourful youth. I studied business and the environment at university in London, and followed that with a post-graduate degree. After a very long process of wrestling with God, I became a Christian when I was 26. I really enjoy sport, particularly football and support Coventry and Aldershot. I enjoy meeting new people, reading new literature, progressive art and music with a difference. After a 12 year commercial career, I'm now Global Advisor for Oxfam on livelihoods, business and markets. I married Sue in 1999 and now we have three children.
Nick Gough - Deacon with responsibility for social action
I come from Chelmsford in Essex but I now live in Benson with my wife Sarah and son Matthew, having moved here in 2005 when we got married. I am head of geography at a senior school in Bucks. I play football for Benson and chess for Didcot and occasionally table tennis. I am a loyal supporter of Ipswich Town football club. I also collect vintage star wars toys. I enjoy watching any sport but especially football, test cricket, rugby union and anything we can beat Australia at.
Esther Mason - Deacon with responsibility for children's work and worship
I'm married with three children. I am currently a full-time parent, which allows me to spend a lot of my time doing voluntary work in the church and the community. I'm currently on the governing body at St John's Primary School where two of my children are at school. I was born in England but spent my teenage and early adult years living in Melbourne, Australia. I therefore speak like an Aussie although I do still support the English cricket or any other English team playing against Australia! I've been doing youth work or children's work since I left school myself. In Australia this included a lot of outdoor activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking and camping. I still enjoy the occasional chance to do such activities although parenthood and increasing age has reduced my desire to do anything too risky. In the small amount of free time I now have you are more likely to find me in a cafe drinking coffee with friends, reading or doing Sudoku, walking by the Thames or enjoying a glass or two of a good Aussie red wine.
Graeme McPherson - Deacon with responsibility for youth
I was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. I moved to the UK in 1998 with the intention of staying 12 months. I am now married to Sarah and have two boys, Toby and William. We moved to Wallingford from East Sussex in August 2006. I am a veterinary surgeon for Larkmead Veterinary group in Cholsey and work predominantly with farm animals. I am very keen on watching and participating in many different sports. I spent 2001 in Sydney studying at Sydney Missionary and Bible College and I am facinated at how the Bible holds together as an historical document and as a record of God's salvation plan for humanity and I am convinced that it is the source of true knowledge of God and the answers to life's big questions.
Graham Rayner - Deacon with responsibility for premises
I have been in Wallingford Baptist Church for over 40 years together and, together with my wife Rachel, have been involved in such activities as short-term missions to the USA and Europe, a job club for redundant executives and I've also been church secretary. We lead and are members of a weeklyhousegroup which has been active for over 25 years. I'm now retired from the construction industry and am involved in the community through the Rotary Club, the Bridge Club, and Writers and other similar clubs.
Sheila Wainwright - Deacon with responsibility for pastoral care and nurture
I was born and came to a Christian faith in a Lancashire town. I trained to be a teacher in Kent and was married in 1962. As a family we lived and worked in Uganda for over four years and our second child was born there. We have lived in Wallingford since 1972 and have been involved in most areas of ministry, particularly with children and teenagers at the beginning. We are still working with children and we have five grandchildren, but now my role at church is more general pastoral work. I have recently joined U3A. I enjoy watching ballet, listening to music and meeting people from other cultures.
Jan Webb - Deacon with responsibility for communications
Brought up in south west London, I became a Christian at the age of 14 and went on to study theology at Nottingham University. I've worked in export, import and accounts offices, before my present job as editorial co-ordinator at BMS World Mission, a mission agency working in around 35 countries. My spare time is spent researching my family history (I've got back to the 1500s in Germany with one branch) and reading - mostly novels, but anything will do! I'm married to Phil and have two grown-up children and three step-children.
Bryan West - Deacon with responsibility for prayer and the elderly
I grew up in Ipswich, Suffolk, and became a Christian in my early teens. Over the years I've had several jobs including 20 years spent as an agricultural engineer. During that time I felt God calling me to theological college and I spent three years at Moorlands College near Christchurch. Then I worked for four years as an evangelist alongside several churches and for a time was the full-time minister at Brightwell Free Church. Although I've had to give up work on health grounds, my last job was in caring for the elderly. Now I find I'm taking services in old people's homes and getting involved in activities for elderly people. I married in 1972 and have three children. My hobbies are gardening, caravanning and photography.