Jim served as Pastor of UBC for nine years before retiring at the end of 2012. Both Jim, and his wife Gladys, are still members of the church.

Jim WaterworthJim became a Christian as a teenager in Birkenhead. He attended the Faith Mission Bible College in Edinburgh and later qualified as a social worker. He worked in the field of child protection for many years.

Jim's heart has always been in Christian work and he has had a busy preaching ministry. For sixteen years he was "teaching elder" at Irby Evangelical Church on the Wirral.

Jim and his wife Gladys have three grown-up children and three grandchildren.

Ian joined the church in 1981. He served as a deacon for some years before becoming an elder in 1994.

He is married to Pauline and they have three grown-up children. His "day job" is as a Quality Manager of a pharmaceuticals company.

Ian became a Christian just after leaving university in 1970, as a result of the prayers of Christian friends. He has completed the Evangelical Movement of Wales theological training course.

Ray became a Christian in 1968 at the teacher training college (now the University). After 23 years in leadership of Baptist churches in other parts of the country, he moved back to the city in 2003 with his wife, Margaret. They had met at the college and took up teaching posts in London. They have 3 grown up children. Ray is now involved in producing bible teaching material for children.

Dave came to Upton Baptist Church in 2008 after two years full-time training with Grace Baptist Church, Southport, during which time he also completed the FIEC ‘Prepared for Service’ course on which he served as the Course Rep.

After serving a Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship he went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Bradford University and although having been brought up in a Christian home, itwas whilst at Bradford that he realised the truth of the gospel and the hopelessness of a life without God. At the age of 22 he committed his life to God. Through his working life as an Engineer with a company making special machinery, he has gained skills in design, proposals engineering and project management

In previous churches Dave has worked extensively with young people and has led many youth camps.

Married to Rebecca, he has rwo teenage stepsons, Thomas and Sam, and a younger daughter, Phoebe. When time allows Dave loves being in the outdoors, especially in the mountains, whether walking, biking or camping.

Colin is our Church Secretary. He became a Christian through the witness of two Christian friends. He could see that there was something different in the lives of these friends that gave them a peace that he knew nothing about.

On Good Friday 1975 Colin picked up a copy of a Christian newspaper in the digs where he was living. One article that Colin turned to again and again was one that explained that Jesus had died on the cross for sinful people and that we all needed to confess our sin before God.

Colin says: "After thinking these things over for a while I went to my room and prayed, asking God to forgive my sins and come into my life as Lord and Saviour."

John’s role in the church is Treasurer and as such, he is responsible for overall management of the church finances, including budgeting and making payments to the various missionaries and organisations we support, as well as dealing with day to day expenses.

John was brought up as a Roman Catholic and attended church regularly, until his teenage years, when he became indifferent to organised religion. One evening, whilst out in Chester city centre, John was invited to a coffee bar where he met people who attended church, not out of duty, but because they had a living and vibrant relationship with God. John was challenged by this and realising the importance of a personal living relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, made a commitment himself at the age of 20 and has never regretted following Christ ever since.

As a husband, father and Christian businessman, John is able to testify of God’s involvement in his life on a daily basis, adding a whole new purpose and meaning to life on earth which was never there previously and a promise and assurance of eternal life with God in heaven when he dies.

Peter's role as a deacon in the church is to take primary responsibility for the church site and building. He and his wife met while they were studying veterinary science at Liverpool University. They now run a farm on the outskirts of Chester. It was in 1975, during his studies at Liverpool, that Peter became a Christian.

Having been brought up to attend the local anglican church Peter was challenged by the Christians he met at uni. It was obvious that they had more than a head knowledge of the Bible. They claimed to know Jesus Christ personally.

Over several months of attending the university Christian Union, Peter realised that he needed to ask God to forgive the sins of his past, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his life as both Saviour and Lord.

Peter has never regretted making that step of faith and today is still seeking to know God better and discover new lessons to be learnt and applied from His Word, the Bible.

Gavin has been part of Upton Baptist Church from its establishment.

In his early teenage years, he came into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. His family were involved with a local church, but he realised that he needed to make a personal response to the love of God and to receive forgiveness from Him. He realised that God had done everything through Jesus Christ and that he could do nothing himself to earn forgiveness.

He says: "I'm grateful to God for my marriage to Ruth and for our daughter and son [now grown up]. I've been active in the work of the Church over the years, particularly with outreach, and I was made a deacon in the 1970s. My retirement from full time work a few years ago has given opportunity to extend my involvement.

"Throughout my life and activity I've been conscious of God leading me, and working things out for me."

Ian came to the church in 2003, and continues to enjoy the teaching, fellowship, and support that characterises Upton Baptist. He became a Christian in his early teens after hearing the gospel several thousand times since his earliest years, but it was only at that point that the Lord showed him he needed to personally turn to Him for forgiveness.

He is married to Liz (a paediatric consultant) and they have two bright and cheery daughters, Rachel and Emily. His professional background is IT/management, but he is currently splitting his time between minding Rachel and Emily, a part-time BA theology course from WEST, and potentially other part time employment.

Within the church Ian serves as a deacon focusing on the communication and IT equipment, helping with Friday Club, and various other activities.

Any spare time is taken up with walking their two Labradors, photography, hill walking, mountain biking and off-road running.