Emmanuel Evangelical Church Chippenham

Spencer is married to Ruth and they have four boys and a dog, so life in the ‘Shaw’ house is never dull! When Spencer manages to snatch a little spare time, he is a Land Rover enthusiast and enjoys walking, keeping fit and reading war novels. He was an industrial Physicist for a number of years before joining the staff of a church in St Albans. After training for ministry the family came to Chippenham in 2001 and he has been the Pastor at Emmanuel since its foundation. (Contact Spencer)

David and Greta have lived in Chippenham for the last 19 years after moving from South West London. David has been involved in church life for 60 years and in that time has carried out a number of roles of responsibility, including Sunday School Registrar and Secretary, Deacon and Elder. David is currently one of Emmanuel’s Elders and a Lay Preacher in the local area. In his spare time David enjoys spending time with his family (4 children and 11 grandchildren!), watching sport and tending to his garden.

Michael and Karin Paton have lived in Chippenham since they retired 8 years ago. Michael became a Pastor in 1963 and Karin became a State Registered Nurse in 1969. They were married in 1969 and worked as missionaries in 4 countries, namely France, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco for a total of 34 years. They have two daughters, Rebecca and Esther, who grew up in Algeria and Morocco. Rebecca is married and lives in Germany with her husband and 5 year-old son, and Esther is married and lives in Canada with her husband and 16 month-old son.

Geoff is married to Jo, with two daughters and a son – oh, and some chickens and bees! Geoff was brought up in South Africa and moved to the UK in 1979 as a teenager with his family. He and Jo were married in 1990, moved to the Chippenham area in 1993, and have been involved in the church at Emmanuel since its beginning. Geoff works for a marketing services group in Reading. In between juggling home life, church life, and work, Geoff enjoys the great outdoors, and likes to drag his family up mountains.

Charlie Fadipe is a trainee pastor at Emmanuel and is involved in many aspects of church life from visiting people in the area to youth work and preaching. Charlie was brought up in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the UK nearly 30 years ago. Some of that time was spent working in London in investment banking, getting their computers to trade complex financial instruments, before making a move into full time church work. He is married to Rachel and they have two young children to keep them occupied!