MANCHESTER — A minister who opened an evangelical Christian church in Pinardville two weeks ago was arrested Wednesday on a prostitution-related charge.

According to Manchester police, Robert Oliver, 54, identified himself as the pastor of Plymouth Brethren Assembly of Manchester. The church opened its doors Aug. 19 at 757 Mast Road.

According to a police statement issued yesterday, undercover officers observed a woman enter the passenger seat of a passing vehicle at Hanover and Beech street.

Police followed the vehicle to a nearby parking lot, where they saw the woman in the back seat with the driver. They arrested Oliver, who gave a home address of 284 Sullivan St., and Michelle DiCampo, 41, of Manchester.

Efforts to reach Oliver through the church telephone number were unsuccessful Thursday.

A recent New Hampshire Union Leader article reported the church is the 34th of the denomination and held its first service Aug. 19.

Oliver said he was aiming to build the church by going door to door and befriending people who aren't existing churchgoers.

“We want to win the lost of Jesus first,” the article quoted him saying.

Oliver said he had served as pastor of a nondenominational church in Canada, but a split at the church in Canada led Oliver and his wife to New Hampshire. “My wife and I prayed and we just kept hearing 'Manchester, N.H.' We took a trip down here and the Lord provided a building for the church and an apartment, and we believe it's his will for us to be here in Manchester,” he said in the article.

Police said they also arrested a woman Wednesday on an unrelated prostitution charge.

Manchester resident Jennifer Hart, 36, allegedly agreed to a sex act in exchange for money, after meeting a police officer who answered a posting she made on a website.

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