Bill Smith - Church Founder

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. 

Bill and Debra married in 1976 and 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 continued at the church in Blackpool for the better part of 32 years. 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 greatly missed but we know that we have hope of seeing him again..

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