After 36 years as a Baptist minister Rev Peter Thomas MA MA retired in January 2023 as minister of North Springfield Baptist Church in Chelmsford UK.
This is my Sermons and Studies blog.
You can find out more about North Springfield Baptist Church at www.northspringfieldbaptistchurch.org
I have a separate blog of other articles on topics such as theology, ministry and mission at
www.pbthomas.com/thoughts
My articles and blog on Outreach and Evangelism is at www.takingeveryopportunity.org
I am on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbthomas1
I am on Twitter @pbthomas at www.twitter.com/pbthomas
I am always happy to chat about anything: email me peter@pbthomas.com
Who am I?
Teaching science
From a background of no contact with Christianity I became a Christian at the age of 16. I went from Manchester Grammar School to Trinity Hall Cambridge to study Natural Sciences eventually specialising in Organic Chemistry. I took the PGCE with distinction and the Charles Fox Prize at Cambridge and moved from teaching practice to my first job teaching science and later Computer Studies under (now Professor Sir) John Holman at Watford Grammar School. After four years and a couple of minor publications I moved (with many happy memories) to study Theology at London Bible College (now London School of Theology).
Tunbridge Wells
I was ordained to Baptist Ministry in 1986 and became Assistant Minister at Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church under Rev. Philip Gathercole. I was particularly involved in establishing their Learning Centre which led to writing HELP 1 published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in 1991. (See HELPs – resources for Christian Education.) I was also privileged to serve for two years as President of the Tunbridge Wells Council of Christian Churches.
Borehamwood and Elstree
In 1991 I became Minister of Borehamwood Baptist Church. During the next eight years we were excited to work with Elstree Congregational Church in establishing a church plant “Elstree Free Church – a different kind of church”, one of the earliest examples of Cafe Church holding its Sunday Services seated on chairs around tables surrounded by Monet prints. Elstree Free Church has always had a particular ministry with friends with Learning Disabilities. Meanwhile during 1993-1995 I was enabled to study part time for the MA in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation at London Bible College.
Brentwood
In 1999 we moved to a new challenge as Minister of Brentwood Baptist Church in Essex. This gave exciting opportunities for links with churches in Bulgaria and Uganda, and I have now visited Uganda twice and Bulgaria three times. In November 2001 I also took on the responsibility of Moderator of Churches Together in Brentwood and changed roles in 2007 to become Secretary. I was involved in establishing the national Churches Network for Gypsies and Travellers and was involved for many years with Harvest For The Hungrywww.harvestforthehungry.co.uk. I also served on the committee and as webmaster for On the Move “free lunch barbecue” missions.
North Springfield
The door opened for me to become Minister of North Springfield Baptist Church on the outskirts of Chelmsford in Essex with a Welcome Service on 17th October 2010. The challenge to reach out to an estate of more than 10,000 people is both exciting and daunting but we have already seen many encouragements and considerable growth! North Springfield is currently expanding north in the new areas of Beaulieu giving us another 2000 houses in our patch. You can find more about North Springfield Baptist Church on our website:www.northspringfieldbaptistchurch.org
You can also follow what is happening on the Facebook Page for North Springfield Baptist Church.
I served for nine years on the Council of the Eastern Baptist Association with responsibilities for Finance and Administration and also on the EBA Home Mission Grants Committee. I was also a director and the Treasurer and Webmaster of the national College of Baptist Ministers. Read more about CBM here www.collegeofbaptistministers.com
At home
My wife Ruth has retired as a schoolteacher, most recently as Director of Learning for the Multi Academy HEARTS Trust of Primary Schools. We have three children: Lizzie graduated in Pharmacology and qualified as a teacher in Cambridge and with Giles has given us our wonderful granddaughter Ellie and grandson Mark; Susie graduated in Drama from Queen Mary College, London, and now runs a dog-grooming business in South Wales. Susie is married to Tom and their son is Finnley. After post-doctoral research into neuroscience at University College London and Imperial College London, our son David is now a business consultant.
In spare minutes I enjoy playing piano and guitar and doing all kinds of things with computers but am also kept busy by our wonderful banoffee coloured spaniel Sophie, daughter of our previous black spaniel Poppy. They were the founders of Dogs In Ministry, the first and only academic and professional organisation for dogs involved in the ministry of the church. You can find them in their Facebook Group and at http://dogsinministry.pbthomas.com