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Pastor Peter Aspinall (BSc) was raised in industrial Yorkshire. Graduating from Southampton University in 1966 he 'dropped out' in the social confusion of sixties Britain. Looking for the answers to questions he didn't even know he was asking, he headed for the surf capital of the UK, Newquay, Cornwall, and living out of a tent, supported himself with a wide variety of occupation from beach combing, office work, and work in the construction industry.
Travelling between his native Yorkshire and the idyllic bliss of Newquay, and 'anywhere the wind blew' in between, he met his future wife, Pamela who joined his search for truth and happiness in Newquay, swapping the comforts of home for the simplicity of a tent and absorbing themselves in the literature and music of the era, finding their deepest questions echoed in the writings of John Steinbeck and Bob Dylan.
Peter and Pamela married (and recently celebrated 35 wonderful years together) and eventually settled in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Having struggled with depression and hopelessness, crying out one night in his apartment 'God, if you're real, do something in me... show me...' Peter was apprehended by the wonderful love of Jesus and his power to save. The next day he knew something had changed, and set out on a search to know his Saviour.
His conversion, and his new understanding of the Gospel, of Salvation, and of Jesus Christ, led Peter to a new passion of being "on fire" for Jesus... Beginning with street witnessing he started a long involvement with evangelism through sharing, coffee house, music and film ministry, quickly moving in to preaching, teaching and speaking opportunities. Nurtured on the Word of God and believing in its sufficiency, he was soon taking opportunity to teach the Bible wherever possible and began to share in local schools and colleges. It was through this ministry that Peter started a home study group which quickly outgrew it's setting and eventually became a church in 1980. Having moved to Otley, the church met for two years in his home and then moved for four years to rented rooms before finally moving to its current home in 1986, having completely renovated, in a leap of faith, a near-condemned, derelict, run down first floor warehouse in an industrial building in Otley town centre.
Since that time, church and pastor have gone through many changes and experiences and remain as committed as ever to sound Biblical teaching and exposition, persuaded that 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God' and that 'without faith it is impossible to please God.'
Pastor Peter continues to teach the Word whenever and wherever the Lord calls him, and supports himself in ministry to the body in Otley through construction work.
He and Pamela have one son, Steve, who is the worship leader at Calvary Otley. |
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We remain committed to sound Biblical teaching, persuaded that 'faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God' and that 'without faith it is impossible to please God.' |
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