Our Ministers
Our Church has been well served by outstanding ministers.Overview
Chapters include
Since Pier Avenue Baptist Church was founded on 2nd July, 1902 fourteen ministers have been appointed to serve.
More information on each minister and photographs can be found further down this page.
The summary table opposite has hyperlinks to the details for each minister to save scrolling.
| Minister | Appointed | |
| 14 | Rev Michelle Eversden-Thomas | 2024 – |
| 13 | Rev. Sean Fountain | 2008 – 2022 |
| 12 | Rev. Stephen Biddall | 1991 – 2006 |
| 11 | Rev. Leslie Wright | 1982 – 1990 |
| 10 | Rev. Harry Whyte | 1979 – 1981 |
| Mr. Kenneth Hoborough (Moderator) | 1977 – 1979 | |
| 9 | Rev. Ralph Stephens | 1969 – 1977 |
| 8 | Rev. Derek Mucklow | 1964 – 1969 |
| 7 | Rev. David Lewis | 1957 – 1963 |
| 6 | Dr. T. Wilkinson Riddle | 1950 – 1956 |
| 5 | Rev. Hugh McCullough | 1944 – 1949 |
| 4 | Rev. Samuel Morris | 1932 – 1943 |
| 3 | Rev. Daniel Hayes | 1922 – 1931 |
| 2 | Rev. A. E. Calver | 1915 – 1921 |
| 1 | Rev. Percy A. Clements | 1903 – 1914 |
Rev Michelle Eversden - Thomas
2024 -
Michelle commenced ministry half way through 2024 and is the first lady minister to be appointed to lead Pier Avenue in our history.
Rev. Sean Fountain
2008 - 2022
The church membership unanimously called Sean to our ministry, confirming to us at PABC and to Sean that this was God’s call. His Induction Service took place on 26th January 2008.
Sean is joined in Clacton by his wife, Paula, and teenagers, Daniel and Hannah.
Prior to joining us at PABC, Sean’s previous pastorate was at Fleckney Baptist Church in Leicestershire.
Rev. Stephen Biddall
1991 - 2006
Stephen was called to serve at Pier Avenue Baptist Church in 1991, having served for nine years at Hainault Baptist Church in Ilford.
In 1997, he was elected President of the Essex Baptist Association.
With 15 years service, he has been the longest serving minister in Pier Avenue Baptist Church’s history.
Stephen left us in August 2006 having accepted the Pastorate of Cecil Square Baptist Church in Margate.
Rev. Leslie Wright
1982 - 1990
Leslie’s ministry was cut short by his sudden death from a heart attack in 1990.
Rev. Harry Whyte
1978 - 1981
Harry and his family were the first people to live in the Church’s existing manse. The former manse had been sold.
Mr Kenneth Hoborough (Moderator)
1977 1978
Kenneth was Moderator at least five times in the Church’s history and also served as Minister at our Cluster Church in Thorpe-le-Soken.
He gave outstanding service as Church Treasurer, Secretary, Deacon and in many other capacities.
Rev. Ralph Stephens
1970 - 1977
Served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church 1970 – 1977, before moving to Gloucestershire.
Ralph Stephens’ daughter Janet continues to worship at Pier Avenue Baptist Church with her husband Richard.
Rev. Derek Mucklow
1964 - 1969
Derek came to Clacton, serving for five years at a time of great social change and upheaval.
Derek was a good friend of the Church for many years after leaving and had served as guest speaker at special event like a Church House Party.
One of the highlights of Derek’s ministry was a baptismal service which was broadcast on Anglia Television.
Rev David Lewis
1957-1963
David, a Welshman, served at Pier Avenue Baptist Church for six years between 1957 – 1963.
He is fondly remembered by the older generation as a man of great sensitivity and kindness.
Dr T Wilkinson Riddle
1950-1956
Pier Avenue Baptist Church approached Dr. Riddle, from George Street Baptist Church in Plymouth, to consider of coming to Clacton during the summer months of 1949 in a largely preaching capacity.
During his pastorate, Dr Riddle was editor of the “Christian Herald”, a task he continued until he was well into his nineties.
Rev Hugh McCullough
1944-1949
Hugh was widely known as one of the “Essex Five” – a group of preachers committed to evangelistic outreach in the county.
Hugh inaugurated a summer Bible convention in Clacton – which continued until the 1990s.
He was elected President of the Essex Baptist Association in 1948.
Rev Samuel Morris
1932 – 1943
Arrived from Liverpool to minister at Pier Avenue Baptist Church.
In 1933, Rev Morris preached a sermon referring to a trend permitting secular entertainment on Sundays – a trend he strongly disapproved of.
A trial ensued which received national coverage. In 1935, Mr Morris was finally cleared of all charges.
Rev. Daniel Hayes
1922-1931
Following a ministry at Shoreditch Tabernacle in London, Daniel and his family moved to Clacton. They moved into in the church’s new manse.
The Rose Window at the south end of the church, was dedicated to Daniel, whose energy and enthusiasm were largely responsible for the completed church building scheme; the result was the third and present church building, opened in 1929.
His daughter, Dorothy, served in India with the Baptist Missionary Society in the 1930s.
Rev A E Calver
1917 - 1921
In 1920, Mr Calver announced that the church was free from all debts.
After a six-year ministry, Mr Calver moved to minister at Emsworth Baptist Church, near Portsmouth.
Rev Percy Clements
1903-1914
Came to Pier Avenue Baptist Church as a young student minister from Surgeon’s College, London.
In 1914, after serving in Clacton for eleven years (1903 -1914), Percy accepted a call to the pastorate of Herne Hill Baptist Church.
“The active and devoted service of this young minister made a lasting impression on the Church. It became a centre of evangelistic zeal.” Quote from E.W. Warn