{"id":520,"date":"2025-10-14T12:06:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=520"},"modified":"2026-09-04T16:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T16:38:53","slug":"about-us-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=520","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t\t    <a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=5\"\n               target=\"_self\"\n\t\t\t   itemprop=\"url\"\n               data-link-type=\"url\"\n               data-caption=\"\"\n               data-title=\"Melrose-Logo\"\n\t\t\t                  data-description=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t    <img class=\"ba-cheetah-photo-img wp-image-26 size-full\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Melrose-Logo.png\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\titemprop=\"image\" \n\t\t\t\theight=\"320\" width=\"320\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" srcset=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Melrose-Logo.png 320w, https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Melrose-Logo-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Melrose-Logo-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/a>\n<nav>\n\t<!-- mobile menu -->\n\t\t<button>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<!-- menu items -->\n\t<ul id=\"menu-main-menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-69\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/\">Home Page<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-598\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=520\" aria-current=\"page\">About Us<\/a>\n<ul>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-597\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=594\">Statement of Beliefs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-154\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=151\">What&#8217;s On<\/a>\n<ul>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-108\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=104\">News and Events<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-68\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=57\">Contact Us<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-465\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=459\">Give<\/a>\n<ul>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-543\"><a href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=535\">Ministry Partners<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n<h1>\n\t\tabout mcf\t\n<\/h1>\n<h2>\n\t\tMeet The Team\t\n<\/h2>\n\t<p>No church is a church without the people. Here are some of the awesome team who serve at Melrose<\/p>\n<section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/001-153-scaled.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Philip and Evadne Keeble\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Philip is the senior Co-Pastor at Melrose. Him and his wife Evadne moved from SE London in the late 70s after God called them to ministry in Basingstoke and they soon established Melrose Christian Fellowship. Evadne oversees the Praise and Worship team and is an integral part of the ministry at Melrose.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhilip and Evadne Keeble\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPastor and His Wife\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/James-and-Rhoda-MCF-Website.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"James and Rhoda Morson\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>James is our Co-Pastor. He runs the Young Adults Bible Study and oversees the youth. He also heads up the Men&#8217;s Ministry and you may catch him dropping some licks on the bass guitar at our services. His wife Rhoda co-leads the youth and is also the church administrator. She is one of our worship-leaders and a gifted singer.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames and Rhoda Morson\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCo-Pastor &amp; Church Administrator and Youth Leaders\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Chels.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Chelsea Umali\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Chelsea has been appointed as a prophet in Melrose. We have recognised that God has put this unique call on her life and we want to make full use of what God has given her, for the equipping of the church for ministry and edification.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea is also a part of the Youth Team and heads up the projector team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChelsea Umali\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProphetess\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20221211_144326-225x300.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Ester Muteto\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ester heads up our Women&#8217;s Ministry at Melrose. She is always proactively looking for ways to invest into the lives of our women and does a great job at our Mother&#8217;s Day Services every year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEster Muteto\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWomen&#039;s Ministry\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Ritha.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Ritha Mufiri\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our gatekeepers are your first port of call when you arrive at Melrose. Ritha is our head of Gatekeepers. She does a great job of maintaining that our team is here to welcome first timers, visitors and our regular members. You will also find her singing in Praise and Worship and serving in the finance team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRitha Mufiri\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGatekeepers\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-02-at-15.49.20.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Miriam Elliot\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Miriam heads up our faithful team of trustees. She is our resident Northerner and you will often see her giving the notices for the week on a Sunday morning along with a weekly joke and often blessing us with a word of exhortation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMiriam Elliot\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTrustees\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Janet.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Janet Gnanaraj Solo\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Janet is our Sunday School leader and runs the team of 3 other faithful leaders who take our children out and teach them each week. Janet is a mother of two children and also serves on the Praise and Worship team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanet Gnanaraj Solo\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHead of Sunday School\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Naomi.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Naomi Lafolley\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Naomi is one of our longest standing members being at Melrose since she was a child. She now heads up the creche ministry while also singing on the Praise and Worship team and serving as one of our Gatekeepers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNaomi Lafolley\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreche\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-02-at-15.49.21.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Gina Wusha-Conteh\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Gina is our Head of Catering. She oversees all of the food preparation\u00a0 at the various events where food is involved. You will also see Gina welcoming you at the door as a Gatekeeper, leading you in Praise and Worship and serving in the finance team. She&#8217;s a busy lady!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGina Wusha-Conteh\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCatering Team\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Carol.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Carol Allen\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Carol Allen is our safeguarding officer as well as one of our trustees. She is a trained counsellor and also sings on the Praise and Worship Team.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarol Allen\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSafeguarding\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-03-at-13.45.46.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Friday Club Team\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We have an array of young leaders who support our younger and Midis Friday club sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFriday Club Team\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFriday Club Leaders\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/cite>\n<\/section><h4>\n\t\tFind Us\t\n<\/h4>\n\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/popleychurch\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Instagram\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Instagram\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/melrosechristianfellowship\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"TikTok\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"TikTok\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/tiktok.com\/@mcf_basingstoke\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"WhatsApp\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"WhatsApp\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t<a \n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"YouTube\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"YouTube\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6wb1O8VszTpQhR8-sAOBfg\/videos\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\t\t\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<p>E: info@melrosechurchbasingstoke.com<\/p>\n<p>P: 07756 383 068<\/p>\n<p>We are registered charity: 1163494<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home Page About Us Statement of Beliefs What&#8217;s On News and Events Contact Us Give Ministry Partners about mcf Meet The Team No church is a church without the people. Here are some of the awesome team who serve at Melrose Philip is the senior Co-Pastor at Melrose. Him and his wife Evadne moved from&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/?page_id=520\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">About Us<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"ba-cheetah-canvas-template","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-520","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":602,"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/520\/revisions\/602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/melrosechurchbasingstoke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}