Ministerial History

Overview

Since Pier Avenue Baptist Church was founded on 2nd July, 1902 thirteen ministers have been appointed to serve. 

More detailed descriptions and photographs, where available, may be obtained by  clicking on the hyperlinks or scrolling down the page.

Rev. Sean Fountain

• The church membership unanimously called Sean to our ministry, confirming to us at PABC and to Sean that this was God's call.  His Induction Service took place on 26th January 2008.

• Sean is joined in Clacton by his wife, Paula, and teenagers, Daniel and Hannah.  

• Prior to joining us at PABC, Sean's previous pastorate was at Fleckney Baptist Church in Leicestershire.

Rev. Stephen Biddall

• Stephen was called to serve at Pier Avenue Baptist Church in 1991, having served for nine years at Hainault Baptist Church in Ilford.

• In 1997, he was elected President of the Essex Baptist Association.

• With 15 years service, he has been the longest serving minister in Pier Avenue Baptist Church's history.

• Stephen left us in August 2006 having accepted the Pastorate of Cecil Square Baptist Church in Margate.

Rev. Leslie Wright

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1982 – 1990

• Leslie's ministry was cut short by his sudden death from a heart attack in 1990.

Rev. Harry Whyte

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1978 – 1981

• Harry and his family were the first people to live in the Church's existing manse.  The former manse had been sold.

Mr Kenneth Hoborough (Moderator)

• Served as Moderator between 1977 - 1978.

• Kenneth was Moderator at least five times in the Church's history and  also served as Minister at our Cluster Church in Thorpe-le-Soken.

• He gave outstanding service as Church Treasurer, Secretary, Deacon and in many other capacities.

Rev. Ralph Stephens

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1970 – 1977,  before moving to Gloucestershire.

• Ralph Stephens' daughter Janet continues to worship at Pier Avenue Baptist Church with her husband and their family.

Rev. Derek Mucklow

• Derek came to Clacton, serving for five years (1964 – 1969) at a time of great social change and upheaval.

• Derek is still a good friend of the Church, and has served as guest speaker at our Church House Party in recent years.

• One of the highlights of Derek's ministry was a baptismal service which was broadcast on Anglia Television.

Rev. David Lewis

• David, a Welshman, served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church for six years between 1957 – 1963.

• He is fondly remembered by the older generation as a man of great sensitivity and kindness.

Dr. T. Wilkinson Riddle

• Pier Avenue Baptist Church approached Dr. Riddle, from George Street Baptist Church in Plymouth, to consider of coming to Clacton during the summer months of 1949 in a largely preaching capacity.

• Ministered to the people of Pier Avenue Baptist Church during 1950 – 1956

• During his pastorate, Dr Riddle was editor of the "Christian Herald", a task he continued until he was well into his nineties.

Rev. Hugh McCullough

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1944 – 1949

• Hugh was widely known as one of the "Essex Five" - a group of preachers committed to evangelistic outreach in the county.

• Hugh inaugurated a summer Bible convention in Clacton - which continued until the 1990s.

• He was elected President of the Essex Baptist Association in 1948.

Rev. Samuel Morris 

• Arrived from Liverpool to minister at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1932 – 1943

• In 1933, Rev Morris preached a sermon referring to a trend permitting secular entertainment on Sundays – a trend he strongly disapproved of. 
  A trial ensued which received national coverage.  In 1935, Mr Morris was finally cleared of all charges.

Rev. Daniel Hayes

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1922 – 1931

• Following a ministry at Shoreditch Tabernacle in London, Daniel and his family moved to Clacton.  They moved into in the church's new manse.

• The Rose Window at the south end of the church, was dedicated to Daniel, whose energy and enthusiasm were largely responsible for the completed church building scheme; the result was the third and present church building, opened in 1929.

• His daughter, Dorothy, served in India with the Baptist Missionary Society in the 1930s.

Rev. A. E. Calver

• Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1915 – 1921

• In 1920, Mr Calver announced that the church was free from all debts.

• After a six-year  ministry, Mr Calver moved to minister at Emsworth Baptist Church, near Portsmouth.

Rev. Percy Clements

• Came to Pier Avenue Baptist Church as a young student minister from Surgeon's College, London.

• In 1914, after serving in Clacton for eleven years (1903 -1914), Percy accepted a call to the pastorate of Herne Hill Baptist Church.

• "The active and devoted service of this young minister made a lasting impression on the Church.  It became a centre of evangelistic zeal." Quote from E.W. Warner, 1951.