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About us

The Leadership Team

Paul and MichellePaul Green

Pastor

Paul and Michelle joined Orchard with their three children (Cheri, Laura and James) in July 2005.  Paul spent the first fourteen years of his working life as a soldier in the Royal Artillery before the call of God came to full time ministry.  He completed a Diploma in Theology with Spurgeons College through long distance learning and joined The Solders' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) in 1997 as a full time evangelist  ministering amongst the armed forces in Edinburgh.  In the year 2000 the call of God came again, this time to Bristol (their home town) where, for the next three years, he attended Bristol Baptist College and studied for a degree in theology.  For a short time after leaving college Paul pastored a small baptist church in Bristol before accepting the call to Orchard.

Paul admits that his heart is still very much inclined to the work of evangelism - 'I live to see the lost won for Christ.  In fact, I am not sure whether I am a Pastor with an evangelist's heart, or an Evangelist with a pastor's heart!  My own pastor once told me 'in order to win others for Christ you first have to be on fire for him yourself'.  Well, if that is true, then my prayer is 'Lord, don't let me smoulder, let me be an inferno!'

Paul is also an Officiating Chaplain to the Forces working in support of the regular Chaplains of the 2nd Parachute Regiment and the 3rd Parachute Regiment. 

Brian & Linda PatersonBrian PatersonLinda Paterson

Treasurer & Secretary

Brian: "I am a teacher at Colchester Sixth Form College, and have taught Maths there since the College opened in 1987. I have been coming to the church since 1987 and have been Treasurer at Orchard for over 15 years. I also regularly play the guitar for services. I enjoy playing five-a-side football with other college staff on a Friday, DIY and watching films with our teenagers."

Linda: "I have been coming to Orchard since 1987 when we moved to Colchester from Hertfordshire. I have been Church Secretary for about 8 years and have also played the piano for services for many years. Over the years I have also helped with Toddlers, a ladies' Bible study group and led a Homegroup, Alpha and a children's midweek group. In my spare time I am a Teaching Assistant and Governor at one of the local Junior Schools, I look after our 3 teenagers and run a sailing holiday on the Norfolk Broads for Scripture Union."

Richard BolamRichard Bolam

Elder (Teaching and Fabric)

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Ray BockingRay Bocking

Elder (Prayer and Pastoral Care)

Val and I have been at Orchard since 1998.  I was born in Halstead, brought up in a Christian family and was very involved in the local Anglican Church. A silk weaver by trade, I met and married Val, a school teacher, in 1964, and we have three sons. In 1983 we became involved in a nearby Baptist Fellowship at Sible Hedingham where we were baptised along with our eldest son in 1984. We felt God's call on our lives to work for Him full time and during a visit to South Africa in 1988 we were asked to become Houseparents in a Christian hostel for girl's. It was very interesting and rewarding work. We were involved in the local church there and Val was also involved with teachers in rural schools.We retired in 1998 and returned to the UK  to live on Mersea Island. Since joining Orchard we have been involved in many activities and have found fulfilment in serving the Lord here. We now have ten grandchildren and are incredibly blessed.