Deacons

Our leadership team is made up of our “deacons” who are elected by the Church, recognising their maturity, wisdom and care.

They are assisted by the leaders of all the various groups.

Bev Smith

Deacon & Church Secretary

Bev Smith 2

I became a Christian in my teens at a Girls’ Brigade camp, when for the first time I understood how much God loves me and that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, and that because of this we can all be forgiven and accepted.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came so that we could have life, life in all its fullness and I believe that this is what I received when I became a Christian.

I am married to Bill, and we have two golden retrievers, Brodie and Skye.  I work for a charity in Coleshill in IT training and support.  This is a recent change, as most of my working career I have worked as PA to Senior Managers.

David Thompson

Deacon

I have been a deacon since January 2022.  He has retired having worked for 38 years with Lloyds Bank and 10 years on a part time basis with the Heart of England Baptist Association.  He has been a deacon before at the church up to 2018.  He was baptised more than fifty years ago and has been married to Irene for forty years.  They have three grown up children and five grandchildren.

Esther Ford

Deacon

I was born into a Catholic family Esther Ford

I started to attend Tamworth Baptist Church in 2000, attending an Alpha course and found so much I had missed in faith, even though I had been a Catholic all my life to that point, that I asked to be baptised in September 2001 and have been a member here since.

Tamworth Baptist Church is now an integral part of my life, an extended family that has provided love and support for me, and the rest of my family, and has given me challenges and the opportunity to allow my faith to continue to grow.

I attend housegroup and a weekly prayer meeting, both of which have helped me to talk to God, and I have more recently joined the Sunday school team, which has given me so much in return.

I work in the NHS, having done so for over 30 years.  I look forward to whatever God has planned for me in the future, and, as in dancing, I just need to remember to let Him lead.

Ruth Haywood

Deacon

I am married to Matt and we have been blessed with three boys – Alexander and Joshua (both are part of Boys’ Brigade and Sunday school) and our youngest Thomas was born still in 2018.  I love my job, as Head of English at a boys’ grammar school, despite the busyness.

I have attended Tamworth Baptist church since my family moved to Tamworth in the late 1980s.  I was baptised when I was 15 and church was a significant part of my every-day life growing up.  I moved away for university and was part of a large Anglican church; during my time in Aberystwyth I hosted our student cell group.  Matthew and I began our married life in Birmingham where I completed my teacher training.  I was a member of Birmingham Central Baptist church and was part of the worship group and led one of the Sunday school classes.

When Alex was 1, we returned to settle in Tamworth.  I am part of the worship group and have recently organised remembrance events to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.  In the face of grief, I know that God has been my rock.  My faith in Him has been my guide and light, and I pray others can know that message of love and eternal hope.

Rachel Sage

Deacon

Rachel

I am married to John & we have a son, Joseph. I work full-time as a primary school teacher in a local village school, where I am the Assistant Head, Early Years Leader and Reception class teacher.

I have attended Tamworth Baptist Church my whole life apart from a break of four years whilst I was at university in Sheffield. I have always been involved in a range of church activities. I was baptised when I was 13 years old after giving my life to God whilst attending a Christian youth event called Firm Foundations.

I am part of the worship group and enjoy leading the singing most Sunday mornings. I also play the flute – although not as often as I used to!

Sue Silcock

Deacon

Sue Silcock

I am married to Colin and have three sons and four grandchildren and one great grandchild.  We moved to Tamworth 40 years ago from Hartlepool and I still speak with a slightly strange accent! I have been an active member of Tamworth Baptist Church ever since and have undertaken lots of different roles within the fellowship.

I have been a deacon for many years and am currently involved in Saplings , I lead a mid week housegroup and am a Girls Brigade Officer, I lead evergreens every other Monday I arrange services in local community care homes and sometimes lead Sunday worship.

Cath Vernon

Deacon

Cath 88I was born in Birmingham and grew up at Stechford Baptist Church where I was baptised on 17th June 1962, aged fourteen. I married Ron in 1971 and we moved to Polesworth where we quickly settled and became members of Polesworth Baptist Church worshipping there for many years.

Ron was in the Boys’ Brigade and I was trained and commissioned as a Girls’ Brigade Officer in 1983. I served as an officer for almost twenty years and have very happy memories of those times.

We have been members of Tamworth Baptist Church since 1990. I have been a Sunday School teacher and am presently part of our preaching team and love to share my faith in this way. I support our Boys’ Brigade Company as their treasurer and take the minutes at staff meetings.

Ron and I enjoy a good family life and regularly meet up with our two sons, their wives and our four granddaughters. Now retired, we remain active and busy with various interests in the community as well as continuing to travel abroad, enjoy gardening and swimming.

Martin Horner

Deacon

I have been attending Tamworth Baptist Church for 42 years and was baptised in 1983 following coming to Christ, when a group of American Baptists came on a mission to the Church and being challenged during that time I gave my life to Christ. I have been involved in many ways at the Church over the years including being the congregation leader at Dosthill, leader of the fabric committee and project managed the worship room renovation.

I am returning to the diaconate after a 5-year break having been a deacon for 27 years previously.

I am now retired after 35 years at BT and 10 years at Volunteer Centre North Warwickshire. I still volunteer as Chair of trustees and manager for White Hart Community Groups (formerly VCNW). I am married to Alison, has 2 grown up daughters and two grandchildren.