Jonny’s first contact with Upney Baptist Church was in the summer of 2006 when he came to help in the Church’s summer mission.  He came again over the next few years to lead the summer missions and enrolled in the Irish Baptist College in 2009, graduating in 2012 with a Batchelor of Divinity Degree.

In 2012 Jonny was invited by Upney Baptist Church to be the Assistant Pastor on a 12 month contract, then appointed Interim Pastor when Billy Young stepped down as Pastor in 2013.  Jonny was subsequently elected Pastor of Upney Baptist Church at a Special Church Meeting on February 18th 2014, he was then inducted as Pastor on Saturday 12th April 2014 where  Jonny’s father, Pastor Harry Dowds of Stonepark Baptist Church in County Fermanagh, gave the message from God’s Word.

Dean is married to Nena and has two children, Ethan and Hannah.  He is involved in the promotion of the Biblical Counselling movement in the UK and his hobbies include arranging music for the French Horn Club he helps to run in Brentwood, Essex.

Dean started his working life as a professional French horn player and freelanced in London for 15 years.  It was during a performance of Oklahoma in the West End in 1999 that a colleague shared the Gospel with him and he was saved.  Dean studied counselling at Spurgeon’s College (2005-2008), and graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.  He moved from Integrative Counselling to Biblical Counselling over a number of years and now works as a Biblical Counsellor both in central London, and Dundonald and Emmanuel Churches in SW London.  Visit his website for more details.

Calvin joined Upney Baptist in 2009. He grew up in East London in a Christian home, but came to a realisation of his own need of salvation and a personal relationship with God at the age of 17.

He enjoys being involved in children’s work at the church through the Explorers children’s club and was previously involved in running the Impact youth group. He also manages the church IT and sound systems. He was elected as a deacon in 2016.

Calvin is married to Rebekah and works as an IT project manager in London. In his spare time (which seems to be reducing by the month) he enjoys dragging Rebekah on as many holidays as she’ll allow! He also enjoys playing and watching most sports but is starting to wonder why he supports Arsenal!

John has been attending Upney Baptist since 2006.  He first came along when participating on a Christianity Explored course, and subsequent to this he still had many questions about God.  He followed this on with a course which gave an overview of the Bible, and after this all of the dots joined up and God helped him to see that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

He has headed up the Explorers children’s club since 2010 and enjoys sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ with the children who attend.  John was elected deacon in 2014. 

John is married to Sharon and they have two children (Noah & Jude).  John works as an insurance underwriter in London. Hobbies include running, reading and chopping down bushes in the garden (generally being outside to avoid cabin fever setting in).

Colin started attending Upney Baptist when he moved into the area in 1996 with his wife, son David, and newborn daughter Emma and was elected as a Deacon in 2009. Upney was the first church Colin attended.

The then Pastor, Andy Porter, and member Ruth Cain took Colin through the Christianity Explored course and in 2005 Colin was baptised to show his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Since then both Colin’s children have also been baptised and all have roles within the Church, Colin’s ranging from the Fabric to an IT assistant. He also works for Newham Council as a HGV driver.

Anena is married to our Elder Dean, and they have two children, Ethan & Hannah.

She was brought up in a Christian home and has been a Christian for many years.  She has been homeschooling the children for the past four years and is actively involved in various local home-school co-ops.

Anena has also been working as a part-time primary school teacher, but has taken an indefinite break from teaching in order to homeschool the children full-time.  She also teaches in the Sunday School at Upney Baptist, is part of the fabric committee and was appointed Administrator of the Church in 2017.