Wimborne Baptist Leadership Team
Our Pastor Ian Thorpe
I originally come for Suffolk, I became a Christian at 16 at a Tent mission in our village. A few years later while I was a bus driver I was involved with detached youth work in Ipswich, working with kids on the street and in schools. It was not long before God called me into full time Christian work.
After graduating from at Moorlands Collage in 1999, I have Pastored churches in North Wales and Buckinghamshire before having the privilege of becoming Pastor of Wimborne Baptist Church in 2019.
I have a heart for seeing people come to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by his love through the teaching of the Bible and the outworking of it in his people through the Holy Spirit.
I am also a Chaplain at University Hospital Bournemouth and at Queen Elizabeth school Wimborne.
As a hobby I like making and exhibiting paper models. I’m married to Jennifer and we have five grown up children.
Deacon Andrew Chadwick
Brought up in a Christian home, I attended Sunday school as a child. When I went to university, I stopped going to church as I did not believe because I had not had proof. I was at best an agnostic. After being led to a job in Ferndown due to a set of ‘coincidences’ I slowly realised there was something missing in my life. I began to attend church because I enjoyed some of the songs, then began voluntary work for others but nothing filled the gap. One day I was asked if I understood what being a Christian meant and when I admitted I did not, it was explained. That night I made the commitment but nothing changed. However the gap was filled and over a period of time I realised that I was different.
Roles: missionary liaison; deacon (one of the leadership of the church); AV support, pastor/preaching support..
Deacon Anita Hicks
I was born in Essex and brought up in a Christian family.
When I was 12 we moved to Swanage and as a family we attended the Baptist Church.
I was involved in the youth activities and was baptised there. I trained as a primary school teacher at a Teacher Training College in London and for some years I stayed in London to work
During this time I did a years exchange teaching in Australia. When I returned the church I attended was in need of someone to help in the Girls Brigade.
I felt very strongly that this was something God was calling me to do so I trained as an officer and served in the company until I moved to Wimborne in the late 1970's.
I soon became involved in the company at Wimborne Baptist church and became the captain where I remained for the next 30 years.
I am at present a deacon, a home group leader and part of the Messy Church team
Deacon Elizabeth Thurgood
Liz Thurgood, I have been a member since 1971, joined the diaconate in 2014. I am currently editor of the WBC monthly magazine 'The Grapevine'.
I am married to Keith, have six lovely grandchildren and enjoy desktop publishing, gardening and playing scrabble on my tablet
Deacon Alan Warner
I was born & brought up primarily in a Christian family and attended Sunday school with some close neighbours at the local Methodist Church, at which I also attended the Cubs group. When I became too old for the Cubs, I transferred to the local Congregational Church Scout group.
I joined the RAF as a boy at the age of 16 at RAF Cosford and was confirmed by the bishop of Shrewsbury at 17. On moving on to man’s service, I served a total of 11 years, including two tours of active service in the Far East during the confrontation between Malaysia & Indonesia in the mid 60’s during which I drifted away from the Lord.
On leaving the RAF it took a number of years to settle down, during which I felt I was searching for something, but did not know what.
Ultimately, I found myself divorced & living alone on Portland, during which time I met my current wife Hazel, who introduced me to the then Pastor & his wife from Wimborne Baptist Church. They were very good friends of Hazel, and invited me to Church, all of which made me very welcome.
I was baptized 15 months later and married Hazel after a further 3 months.
My service as a Deacon has been for several 4 year terms, with a 1 year break, responsible for the fabric of both the Church & Manse & includes operation of the sound desk & computer. I have been involved with youth work in the past and a steward at Spring Harvest for 8 years running. I have also been directly involved in the link with a partner Church at Petrich in Bulgaria
