Leadership

We are completely dependent on lay ministry and the church is led by a team of six elders and five deacons, supplemented by a wider leadership team including those carrying responsibility in different aspects of the church’s life and ministry.

Meet our Elders


David Vine

Dave is married to Ann and they have five children and five grandchildren.

They have been involved in the church since 1974 and Dave has been in eldership since 1980. His main gifts are preaching, Bible teaching and pastoral ministry.

He is a retired General Practitioner and a trustee of Avail, a mission support organisation, having been actively involved in overseas mission all his life.

Dave and Ann enjoy their grandchildren, their garden, walking and travel. Dave is a lover of all sport, music and coffee!


Bryan Dowley

Bryan is married to Kay and they have three children and eleven grandchildren.

After quite a varied career, Bryan is now well retired from regular employment, but continues to enjoy a full and active life. He originally trained in the construction industry, and his building and construction skills have certainly proved valuable in his years of service to the church.

The family moved to Wirral in 1987 and Bryan has been an elder at the church for most of the years since then. He has a great love of the Scriptures and for God’s people.


David Meeten

Dave joined the leadership team as an elder at Longcroft Christian Fellowship in 2004.

Having been brought up in the church, he returned in 2000 with his wife after living in Scotland and working abroad for a number of years. He and Chandrika live on the Wirral with their two daughters. Dave also works full time in Adult Education in Liverpool.


Roger Jacobs

Roger is married to Helen and they were missionaries for a number of years in Malawi, returning in 2009 and basing themselves on the Wirral since then.

Roger works as a part-time gardener, while Helen works part-time as a physiotherapist.

Roger enjoys teaching the Scriptures and visiting folk, while Helen (among many things) is involved in teaching in the Sunday School.

They enjoy walking the countryside with their dog.


Mark Jones

Mark is married to Helen and they both grew up between the church fellowships at Rora, Lampeter and Exeter. They moved from Exeter in 2010 to take up the residential post at Longcroft, a role in which they served for five years until moving out into their own home in 2015. Mark joined the eldership team at the beginning of 2016.

Mark is a dental technician, Helen a secondary school teacher and they have three children.

Mark is a keen sportsman and appreciates the opportunity to reach out to other men in a church based football session. He also enjoys relating to people of all age groups.


Peter Elks

Peter is married to Ruth & they have 3 daughters & 6 grandsons!

After spending many years serving God in Thailand & Cambodia, they returned to the UK late in 2014, and took up the residential work of the Longcroft in 2015. They continue to maintain contact with national Christians in South East Asia and travel there to visit and teach as opportunities arise.

They enjoy playing with their grandchildren, walking in the countryside and eating spicy Thai food!

Peter was invited to join the leadership team in 2017.


Phil Jones

Phil joined the Eldership Team in early 2023. He is married to Wendy and they have four children.

In 2017 they relocated to England from Canada where they had been involved in the church for many years. Since then they have been part of Longcroft where Phil leads a housegroup and Wendy helps with youth and crĂȘche.

Phil enjoys his work in the construction industry. Together they love family time and exploring new places near and far.