MALVERN Baptist Church, Abbey Road, has a new minister, Rev David Clarke, who comes to the town from Strood Gospel Mission Church in Kent.

Mr Clarke and his wife Sue, who have three grown-up children, moved to Malvern at the end of September and have spent October getting to know the town better and meeting the other ministers in the town.

Mr Clarke studied theology at Spurgeon's College in London where he specialised in church planting and evangelism. Prior to that, he was an engineer in a large manufacturing company. He has a degree in engineering from Durham University.

Throughout his time in ministry he has supported and fostered youth work in many different ways. At Strood he was a trustee of Strood Community Project, a Christian social action project in partnership with two local Anglican churches, working on Advice and guidance, back-to-work support, youth work and domestic violence support. He is enthusiastic about helping people deepen their worship prayer and spiritual lives, and encouraging the church to meet the needs of the local community.

He enjoys going to the gym, badminton, cycling, hill walking and DIY, and both he and his wife are looking forward to walking the s Malvern Hills.

He will be inducted into the church on Saturday, October 29, at 2.30pm. Rev Stephen Walker of Holy Trinity Tewksbury, an old friend from college days, will give the lesson. The service will be led by retired minister Rev Ian Sim of Ledbury and Rev Gordon Graham of Regent’s Theological College, West Malvern.