‘My life verse is Hebrews 12:1 - Running the race with perseverance.’ – John’s Story

Liz went for lunch at the Nags Head pub with Rev John Walford on a cold January to discuss his life and legacy.

Hi John, Can you start by telling me about your parents and childhood?

I was born and grew up in Enfield with loving parents. My mother was a singer and sang with the Philharmonia Orchestra. She gave up the chorus when she started a family and she then supported my dad in all he did and released him into his successful career of running the Enfield Building Society. I had an older brother and sister. My brother sadly died in 1986 and my sister who was a dance teacher now is poorly and lives in Milan.

We had a happy childhood, I was the youngest by several years and was spoiled rotten. I travelled a lot with my parents and I also got involved with Cubs and Scouts. The Cubs were linked to the local Baptist Church.

My parents weren't Christians but my older siblings were christened, one in the Anglian Church and one in the Methodist, but I wasn't christened as by then my older siblings weren't believers and they wanted me to decide for myself.

When and how did you become a Christian and get baptised?

At secondary school my friend's father ran a Crusaders group and they did tenpin bowling and other fun activities. Around aged 15 or 16 I realised that I needed to decide whether what I was hearing about Jesus was true. I became a Christian aged 16 and after that became a Crusader Leader. I got baptised aged 17 and was discipled by the minister and got baptised on 4th January 1976 at Enfield Baptist Church.

What types of employment have you had since leaving school?

I studied Engineering and Geology at Portsmouth Polytechnic. There I met new friends and joined a band called Glory where I sang and played the electric guitar. I dropped out of Uni to concentrate on the band and during that time worked in Medical Records. I realised the band was going badly wrong and so found a job working in childcare as a Social Worker. I worked for Fegan's Homes and spent a year as a residential worker and then moved jobs to Head Office and worked in Tunbridge Wells for 5 years. While working there I lived in Carshalton and went to Carshalton Beeches Baptist Church which is where I met Steph.

Tell us how you met and married Steph and about your children?

While I was a Deacon at the Church I visited Steph in the hospital while she was a patient and we started dating. Then we got engaged around 6 months later and married in October 1985. During this time I looked at going to Spurgeon’s College and I went there in October 1986. Steph was working as a nurse. She went into labour with Katie in 1988, 12 weeks premature. Then Beth was born in 1990 and I missed the first Church Meeting of my new Pastorate at Potters Bar Baptist Church.

How long have you been at BSBC?

During the time of my first sabbatical at Potters Bar Baptist I wanted to create a church where the unchurched would feel comfortable, but it wasn't working out in Potters Bar so for a year I started looking for another church to pastor.

Andrew Cowley, my good friend, had been to BSBC and met the Leadership Team and felt that BSBC would be a good fit for me. I eventually became Pastor at Bishop's Stortford Baptist Church in March 2000. A lady came up to me when I first started and excitedly said that within a year we would have a new building... and 12 years later we did!

What do you feel is your greatest achievement at BSBC?

My greatest achievement should be answered by others but I feel that it's been enabling other people to fulfil their ministries in what God has called them to do. Sue Rayfield once said that the Church had been about Truth but since I'd come we learnt about Grace too. My life verse is Hebrews 12:1 - Running the race with perseverance.

What would you like your legacy to be?

I'd like my legacy to be that the Church continues to grow and for lots more people to come to faith in Jesus and that the Church will thrive.

What are favourite things that you enjoy?

I enjoy music and the countryside. I actually enjoy Rugby - Saracens more than football now and support our local team when I can.

Have you any advice for us all in the coming months and years?

My advice comes from John 15 - about being in the Vine and I want people to :

1. Stay connected to the Vine - Jesus.

2. Remember Jesus is our friend. His intention is for us to be fruitful and so we should see Him at work through us.

Thank you John for sharing your story. I'm sure that I speak for us all in wishing you the very best in the days to come and many thanks for all that you have done for our Church so far over the last 25 years of ministry.