Deacon Phyllis King was brought up on the South Coast where the majority of her family still live; she is widowed and has two sons and a step-son. All three are married and she has two grandsons. Her mother and mother- in -law are both frail and elderly and continue to live on the South Coast.

Phyllis worked in the Civil Service and later retrained as a therapist before candidating for Diaconal Ministry in the Methodist Church. She completed Foundation and Ministerial training at Wesley College in Bristol.

Her first appointment as a Deacon was at Cheadle Hulme, in Greater Manchester, before coming to Ashford in 2006. As a deacon her focus is in the pastoral role of the church and this is currently expressed by hospital visiting on behalf of the circuit. She is also Chaplain to the Ambulance Station staff in Ashford.

Phyllis both leads and assists in worship around the circuit, having completed the 'local preachers training' as her probationer studies. Her interests within the church are 'expressing spirituality through creativity`, and the 'healing ministry.' She has been involved in liturgical dance groups and the healing ministry for thirty years.