Our Leadership
There is active accountability within our leadership team – our Elders are accountable to the Deacons, and they in turn are accountable to the Pastor and the congregation. If you have any worries, concerns, ideas, or requests – please feel free to approach any member of the Leadership Team.
Elders
Matthew McCann - Lead Pastor
Matthew first attended BCLC (or the Full Gospel Church as it was known then) after meeting the Nicholls family in Poland in 1990 at the age of sixteen. From the moment he arrived he felt a strong sense of God's presence in the fellowship and has been here ever since through different seasons. Matt has served in various capacities starting as a youth leader and then a deacon, elder, projects and teaching. Matt will tell you he has done almost every role at some point except leading the women's ministry! Matt completed his Ministerial Training with Assemblies of God GB in 2019 and became Assistant Pastor at BCLC in July 2021. Following Pastor Del's retirement in January 2023, he stepped into the role of lead pastor.
Matt has a background in music (as an oboist) and technology (as a geek and a project & programme manager working in banking, health care, higher education and charity sectors).
When not working Matt loves a good curry and a movie. He is married to the extremely talented Abigail who also ministers in various ways at BCLC. Together they have 3 children who are all growing up fast!
Bola Ojo - Associate Pastor
Bola Ojo LLB (Hons) LLM, MSc has served as an elder at BCLC for many years and ministers regularly in the worship team and in the preaching of the Word. Bola trained as a lawyer and has previously held the position of Head of Lifelong Learning and Youth with a London Borough. During her tenure there, she also held the positions of Adult and Community Learning manager and Community Education Officer. Bola is a trustee of Christian Resources in Bexley Schools (CRiBS) and a governor at a local primary school trust. As Executive Secretary of the African Heart Network, she supports the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular disease in Africa, leading and consulting on many projects particularly in northern Nigeria. She is passionate about engaging local communities in both education and health towards positive change. Bola became Associate Pastor at BCLC in January 2023.
Allan Nicholls MBE - Pastor
Allan has been a member of BCLC since 1956! Allan led the youth back in the day and will tell you of the trips to the Norfolk Broads with the then youth - many of whom went on to become pastors in churches around the country.
Prior to retirement, Allan had a career as a Senior Officer in HM Customs & Excise. He was honoured by the Queen when he recevied an MBE for his work in the civil service and in the community. Allan led the church, with his wife Margaret, for several years in the 1980s and has served on the church pastorate ever since. He serves in the community, being a member of the local chapter of Good News for Everyone who distribute Bibles to schools, universities, hotels and more. Allan and his wife Margaret have travelled extensively at home and abroad and have also developed many links and contacts with missions in Eastern Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. They also serve a number of our local care homes leading services and providing pastoral care.
David Hancock - Youth Pastor
Bio coming soon
Deacons
Tinuke Adegboye - Children's Ministry
Tinuke is the newest member of our Leadership Team, joining in 2022 when she took on leading our Children's Ministry, 'Lightzone'.
Alfred Ansong - 'United' Men's Ministry
Alfred leads the 'United' Men's Ministry. He has been a member of BCLC since 2014, and also faithfully serves as a Street Pastor. Alfred completed his AOG Ministerial Training in 2023. He is married to Cynthia and they have three beautiful girls together.
Carol Bearfoot - Worship
Carol has been with us at BCLC since 2011 when her husband Del became Senior Pastor at BCLC. Del has now retired from that role, but Carol continues to lead our worship team and bring on a new generation of worship leaders. Carol's passion and work are her music and she often performs in concerts around the country and sometimes in international waters! Del and Carol also lead our monthly Diamond Jubilee Club, for those with dementia and their carers.
Fiona Davis - Toddler Group and Events
Fiona leads our Toddler Group Ministry, and previously served as our Worship Ministry leader for many years. In addition, Fiona creates and co-ordinates family outreach events. She is married to Paul and together they have three children and a grandaughter. Fiona enjoys travel and exploring. Fiona has been at BCLC for her whole life - a number of years that shall remain unspoken!
Paul Davis - Connections
Paul first attended BCLC in 1995, and led the Children's Ministry, 'Lightzone', for 21yrs (until 2023), and Men's Ministry, 'United', for 12yrs (until 2019). He joined the church leadership team in 2003, and since 2023 has led the 'Connections Team' - helping to ensure that everyone who comes along to BCLC feels welcome and part of the family, and informed about all of the ministries and opportunities. Paul also supports the church in areas of administration, AV tech, and communications, Youth, and continues to be a member of the 'Lightzone' Children's team.
In his spare time (!?) Paul works as Director of CRiBS, a local schools work charity, a role he commenced in 2024 having been part of the team since 2014. Prior to that he was a Civil Servant and a School Teacher. Paul is married to the amazing Fiona, and has three children and a grandaughter, and enjoys quizzes, travel and sport.
Claudette Folkes - Safeguarding Lead and Young Adults
Claudette is our Safeguarding Lead, and co-leads our Young Adults Life Group alongside her husband Neil. She also is an amazing cook and enhances our hospitality team with her delicious food.
Neil Folkes - Young Adults and Facilities
Neil joined BCLC in 2017 when he, and his wife Claudette, moved into the area. He stepped into the role of deacon in February 2023 and leads our Young Adults Life Group with his lovely wife Claudette. Neil is also a semi-retired company director of an engineering company and is a key member of our Facilities Team. He enjoys gardening, community work and caring for his Koi carp.
Abigail McCann - Communications
Abigail is our Communications Ministry leader, which means she sends our monthly bulletin, keeps the website and calendar up-to-date, writes the weekly announcements, creates a lot of flyers, posters and more. She wont tell you this but she actually does a whole lot more than this! She is married to Pastor Matthew (not an easy job). She also helps with the Children and Youth ministries. In January 2026 Abigail started an exciting new role and ministry, working for London City Mission on their pan-London schools team. You can find out more here.
Kunle Onagoruwa - Stewarding
Kunle has been a beloved part of our leadership since the 1990s and leads the Stewarding Ministry team. Kunle is one the faces you see when you first join our Sunday services and he and his team have a gift for making you feel welcome. Kunle, despite his great smile, and acute mind, is very competitive at table tennis. You have been warned!
Cathy Walford - 'WoW' Women's Ministry
Cathy currently coordinates Street Pastors across Bexley Borough which is an amazing role which impacts Bexley with the love of God. Cathy also leads our 'WOW' Women's Ministry. Cathy previously worked as a nurse and is.....Scottish. Cathy has been part of BCLC leadership since the 1990s and is awesome. She is married to Barry and has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Bexley Christian Life Centre is also a registered charity with a board of trustees. Details of our trustees can be found on the charity commission website.
