Bill & Debra Smith - Chruch Founders

Bill was the Founding Pastor of the church. He planted the church with his wife Debra in 1982 and served until he was called home in 2016.

Bill grew up on a dairy farm in New York State. He was saved at the age of 22 and soon went off to study the Bible at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga Tennessee and later he graduated from Prairie Bible College in Three Hills Alberta Canada. 

He served three years as the Associate Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Washington Ga. 

In 1982 Bill moved with his wife Debra and two children to Blackpool England to begin planting an Independent Baptist Church. He has continued at the church in Blackpool for the better part of 32 years.  

Bill was a certified GM factory-trained auto engineer and over the years he has worked, among other things, as an armed guard, a yard man, a  builders mate, a dental technician and a baker.

Bill’s wife, Debra, was born in Blackpool, England and moved with her parents to Edmonton, Alberta Canada when she was 11 years old. Debra attended Central Pentecostal College, then Tennessee Temple University where she met Bill. She also took distance learning courses from Liberty University. She Studied Nursery Nursing at the University of Lancaster and is qualified as a teacher in Child Care, Child Play and Child Protection.

Bill and Debra married in 1976. They have 5 children and 16 grand children. Their missionary support funds are handled by The Central Missionary Clearing House in Houston, Texas. Their sending church is The Central Baptist Church of East Corning. New York.

Bill and Debra have faced many fiery trials over these past 32 years but the Lord sustained them through them all.

As a minister he became a wise yet humble man. He was a true scholar of God's word, studying endlessly and bringing the light of God's word to the people of Blackpool.

Bill was called home to heaven 31/05/2016. He is missed, but we look forward to seeing him againHis wife Debra continues to minister here at Victory teaching sunday schools, womens ministry and ukulele groups as well being our child protection officer and musical director (amongst other things).

The legacy of Bill's mission for Christ and the solid foundation that he and the Lord have laid, continues to bring the light of God's word to the people of Blackpool, whom Bill loved so much, to this day..

“If I had set out to do this work in my own strength and merits it would have failed and ceased to exist 32 years ago. However as long as we endeavour to build the work here on the eternal Word of God it will remain and prosper for as long as the Lord wills,” - Pastor Bill Smith