
More Than a Building
A church is not a building. It ’s a group of people who worship God and serve him together. There’s a big team doing this as Stalham Baptist. There are lots of opportunities to get involved including greeting people, making refreshments, playing in the band, leading services, working with children & teenagers (these need a DBS check), painting & decorating, flower arranging, and serving as deacons or in a specific role. The pictures below introduce you to just a few of our team.
Meet Some of Our Team

Ron
Rev. Ron Skivington I am a Church leader with general oversight of the spiritual side of Church life by trying to help us all live up to the Church logo of Jesus at the centre of life. After 12 years working for the Clydesdale Bank, I studied at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow followed by two years at the Scottish Baptist College. In the summer of 1988, I was invited to spend 10 weeks in Stalham and then asked if as a family, we would make our home here which we have been delighted to do. Our church logo is Jesus at the centre, and that sums up how I see my role in Stalham. It is about ensuring Jesus becomes ever more central in my life, in SBC's life and that Jesus is seen more & more in our wider community.

Jerry
Rev. Jeremiah Otieno (Jerry) As Assistant Pastor I coordinate our family and youth work, our WhatsApp Prayer Group, and our Bereavement Support Group. I am Kenyan, married to Simone, who is German, and together we are the proud parents of Elsa, Kalos, and Anna. I returned to Stalham in May 2017, after spending a summer here three years earlier while training for Christian ministry at The London Seminary. My role involves working closely with Ron to offer pastoral care and deliver sermons, as well as fostering strong relationships within our community. As a recently bereaved dad, I am actively involved in leading a bereavement support group that meets every other Monday evening for those journeying with grief. I am a passionate Manchester United supporter.

Diana
Diana Gordon – Church Secretary & Deacon I co-ordinate all church administration, including the booking of church premises by external organisations and individuals and the organisation of both Zoom Prayer Meetings and Bible Study sessions. I am also responsible for data protection. Current term as a deacon: 2026-2029 I became a Christian in 1961, after being invited to a youth mission in my home town of Burnley. I Moved to Norfolk in 2012, and have attended SBC since then, becoming a member in April 2016. I am committed to serving God in the best way I can and my passion is to help the church move forwards in reaching out to a new generation of believers. I am married to Greg Chapman.

Stewart
Stewart Marsh – Church Treasurer & Deacon I am the person to contact to ask about church finances and building maintenance issues. Current term as a deacon: 2025-2028 In 1965 I was working on a small farm in North Norfolk. The farmer’s wife was a Christian and it was this lady that invited me to a evangelistic crusade in 1968 where I became a Christian. I was baptised at Foulsham Baptist Church in 1969. My Wife Linda and I moved to the Stalham area in 1991 and started to attend the Stalham Baptist church where we soon became active members. I am keen to see the church move forward both in terms of the building facilities and reaching people in the local community so that they might start or further their journey with God. I will help with this the best way I can, endeavoring to keep Jesus at the centre.

David
David Child I am responsible for our weekly news sheet, and Community Scene, a free magazine distributed three times a year in the area we serve. Current term as a deacon 2026-2029 Mine was a long 50-year journey to become a Christian from being inspired at a North London school around 1965 by my RE teacher, to meeting Ron Skivington at Stalham Baptist Church and being Baptised on Easter Sunday 2016. In between wasn’t a wilderness of lost faith, more a bumping into Jesus occasionally as you do an absent friend, only to move on promising to stay in touch but you don’t. Winston Churchill wrote of himself "Personally, I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught" and I am very like that. Ron never attempted to teach me he just led me on a pathway of guided discovery.

Elaine
Elaine Smith Current term as a deacon 2025-2028 When the Methodist Chapel in Catfield finally closed its doors I always say I went looking for a new church but in reality left that up to God. I was asked to take over the Rainbows which met in the Stables and got a job as a Teaching Assistant at All Saints Lessingham working with children with challenges. The school comes to SBC for their Thanksgiving service in July and at Christmas, so well before Catfield Methodist closed God was already getting me acquainted with the church. As I said at my baptism, I love our church, the ministry, the congregation and the outreach, all done with positive drive and laughter. I am not a born leader, nor a visionary, but I do want to serve God, so being asked to become a Deacon I found very humbling and a privilege.

Daniel
Daniel Nicholson Current term as a deacon 2024-2027 I've been going to Stalham Baptist church since I was a child with my family. When I left school, I stopped going to church regularly and only went occasionally. When I met my wife Victoria we started going regularly and I got baptised on November 28th 2010. My real fire for Jesus came around four years ago when I got baptised in the holy spirit and I've not looked back since. I want to help the church move forward in whatever way God leads me and be there to help people who are searching for God.

John
John Vintner Current term as a deacon 2026-2029 I became a Christian in 1980 at the age of 18 while employed as an apprentice gas fitter. In 1994 I studied for Baptist ministry at Spurgeon’s College, London where I met my wife Helen. In 2004 we left full time ministry to focus on our SEN children and I have been working in the heating industry since then. I retired in January 2026. With Helen I co-founded Unlimited and Boundless which are holidays for young adults with additional needs run under the Scripture Union umbrella. I am excited to be part of the vibrant Christian community at SBC.

Stuart
Stuart Cato Current term as a deacon 2026-2029 Watch this space for Stuart's Bio.

Jean
Jean Bloomfield Current term as a deacon 2026-2029 I became a Christian at a young age through a Brethren Sunday school but my Christian journey has been one of seasons, sometimes little going on (though never abandoning God) and at other times great leaps. I especially grew in my faith through university and when first working in London. My husband Ian and I came to SBC in 1994 with our eldest child and later supported us in prayer when our younger child needed open-heart surgery. We left in 2009 for family reasons but continued in fellowship at other local churches until returning to SBC in 2022.

Maggie
Maggie Harpur Current term as a deacon 2026-2029 I was born again one evening in the summer of 1976 through the grace of God when He revealed the Lord Jesus to me by His Holy Spirit. From that miracle of a moment my inner life was totally transformed as I was restored to God and a new life began as He worked in and through me and will do so until the day of Jesus Christ. From that moment I have had such a great passion for others to know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour I love meeting and building relationships with people from all social backgrounds and all levels of ability through the gifts of love, evangelism, encouragement and hospitality.

Jenny
Jenny Payne Safeguarding Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) As the designated person for safeguarding at Stalham Baptist Church I am responsible for ensuring that all concerns about the safety of our children, young people and vulnerable adults are taken seriously and acted on appropriately. While I take the lead on this, it is the responsibility of all of us to act if we are concerned about the safety of any of our children, young people or vulnerable adults. It is important that we do not assume that someone else will take action, whether our concerns are about someone within the church or elsewhere. I am always happy to discuss any safeguarding issue, whether you think it requires action or not. It is much better to have a conversation than to ignore a situation or worry about it on your own. You can find a link to our safeguarding policy in the footer.







