Ex-footballer Gavin Peacock returns to pastor UK church

Former footballer Gavin Peacock is returning to the UK in 2025 to pastor a church.

The celebrated soccer player, who scored more than 135 goals for Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea and Newcastle United among others, is taking up a new role at Bethersden Baptist Church in Kent. He has been a pastor at Calvary Grace Church in Calgary, Canada.

A statement from the church, which is Grace Baptist, said: 'We are delighted to announce that Bethersden Baptist Church has issued an invitation to Gavin Peacock to become their Locum Pastor for a period of 12 months commencing in February 2025...

'Please pray for Bethersden Baptist Church to be revitalised to Biblical health and enabled to appoint a new Pastor. Please pray for Grace Baptist Church in Bexleyheath and other churches in our Partnership as they seek to assist in various ways. Above all, pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified through this endeavour.'

Peacock is understood to have become a Christian at the age of 18. After retiring from playing soccer in 2002, he worked for the BBC for six years as a broadcaster and commentator, subsequently completing a Master's degree in Theology and entering full-time ministry.

In 2016 he was one of the authors of The Grand Design, a book outlining a complementarian view of women and men. His autobiography, A Greater Glory: From Pitch to Pulpit, was published in May 2021.