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In September 1982, Alan Kippax took early retirement, and the church invited a Spurgeon's College leaving student, the Rev Paul Knight BA to be pastor. As the manse at 167 Colchester Road had been sold in 1970 when Alan and Janet Kippax bought their own house, a new manse was bought in Brunswick Road and with much work by the members, it was enlarged, decorated and modernised for the arrival or Paul, his wife, Alison, and their young daughter Elizabeth. During the three years they were in Ipswich, Paul and Alison had a second daughter and a son. Alison became involved in the coffee club and was a supportive member of the committee.
Paul's main emphasis was on the development of the spiritual gifts of each individual Christian and during his ministry, the Church was very involved with "mission England" crusade led by Billy Graham. Portman Road football ground was the venue in Ipswich with a capacity crown every night. Hundreds came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our church was involved in counselling, the choir, stewarding and the follow-up nurture groups.
A memorable weekend in Paul's ministry was the Anniversary weekend of 1984 when the speaker was the Rev Douglas MacBain, later Area Superintendent of the London Area.
In 1985 Paul Knight moved to Northumberland Heath Baptist Church, Erith, Kent, and a year later in September 1986, the Rev Peter Mitson came to Colchester Road from Winchester Baptist Church.
Peter and his wife, Beth, came to us knowing his ministry would be for 3 and a half years until his retirement. Peter's ministry was one of consolidation, uniting the church and giving it good heart to go forward into the future, looking to God for His guidance and blessing.
Peter's theme throughout his time with us was one of Love. His message to us on his induction was "Love is the heart of the matter, the love of God for His world; of people, so wonderfully expressed in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and administered through His Spirit, reaching you and me, causing us to love each other in the Lord, and reaching out to a world in need".
In October 1987, our church took part in a mission to the area in conjunction with a group of American Southern Baptists who visited Suffolk and Essex, giving their time for this witness. THis proved to be a time when the whole church worked hard and well together to make this a most successful time. Many people were reached with the gospel through the personal invitations of our members to the informal evenings each night and the house meetings by day.
A new Budget Scheme was introduced in Peter's time, mainly based on his previoius experience of this working well, and this has proved beneficial to the church.
Following the church's involvement in Scene '88, the Eastern Baptist Area's focal point that year at Bury St Edmunds, we had 2 day seminars of "A Walk Through the Bible" whose aim is to "teach with the excellence of the Word of God". From a seminar at Scene '88 the church also decided to go forward with a "One Step Forward" campaign in September 1989. Five house groups were set up reaching about 60 people, but with many more in the church studying the personal Bible study booklets. THe second step of this campaign was continuing when Peter Mitson retired in March 1990.
During Peter's ministry his wife, Beth, suffered ill-health, but, despite this she took an active part in the Ladies Fellowship and the Coffee Club, and was president of the Suffolk Baptist Women's Council, and faithfully supported her husband throughout his ministry.
On the 3rd March 1990, the church gave a farewell buffet tea to Peter
and Beth, at which many expressions of gratitude were expressed for their
ministry.