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Our leaders

Our church is led by a team of elders (who are also the trustees of the church).

Grant Spratley
Grant is married to Claudine and they have three boys. He is originally from South Africa, although he now supports England - except when they play the Springboks! They have lived in England for ten years serving in churches in Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and now Dorset. Most of that time was spent serving in youth and children's ministry. Grant is now the full-time pastor.

Malcolm Smith
Malcolm is married to Ruth, and is the longest serving elder, having been at Verwood Road since 1983.  He was self-employed for many years as a printer, photographer and picture framer, running his own shop until his retirement.  Outside of church he spends time gardening, caravanning and with his grandson Kieran.

Jeremy Whiteley
Jeremy is the most recent elder.  He worked for some 40 years in the NHS as a manager at a number of different places.  Jeremy became a Christian through the Navigators while at University, and has since been a member at churches in Surrey and Hampshire before coming to Verwood Road.  He is married to Linda and has two grown-up boys.

Malcolm Willis
Malcolm was born in Cardiff, moved to Salford as a long-haired engineering student, and then to Portsmouth for employment.  Chats with a work friend prompted him to seriously investigate the claims of the Bible, leading to him subsequently becoming a Christian.  Malcolm’s last job move, about 20 years ago, brought him and his wife Joyce to Dorset and to Verwood Road.

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