Obituaries - Methodist Conference

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Obituaries - Presbyters who have died 2012/2013in preaching the gospel. Although highly academic he was able to expound the Bible insuch a way that all could understand and learn. He was candidate’s secretary for theSouthampton District. At home he loved listening to music, reading, and tending hisbeloved plants. A troublesome wisdom tooth back in 2009 was the first sign of somethingamiss. His final two years were borne with great courage. Despite major mouth surgery,just ten days before Christmas, he learnt that the cancer had returned and was terminal.He was still able to preach on Christmas Day 2011. He spoke of God sending Jesusto ‘disturb’ us. He knew what this meant. He bore the remaining six months with greatdignity. He died on 21 June 2012, in the sixty- second year of his age and the fourteenthyear of his ministry.Paul Arthur Mears: Born in Croydon, Surrey on 19 January 1936. He attended WestCroydon Methodist Church with his family and was a member of the Youth Club and theScouts, obtaining the Queens Scout Award. His love for football and Crystal Palace wereimportant to him. After leaving school he worked in a London bank for a year, beforejoining the RAF as a regular to avoid national service in the Army. He served in Egyptand Cyprus, surviving several life and death situations with the Mountain Rescue Team.He was sent on a moral leadership course to the Holy Land, where the Bible became areality for him. Consequently, he left the RAF to go to Cliff College for further educationbefore being accepted for Ministerial Training at Handsworth College in 1958. After afive year engagement, Paul married Leila in 1961, they had two children, Althea andWendy. He served in the following circuits: Leyburn, army chaplain Her Majesty’s Forces,Wesley House Gibraltar and Poole. Paul served as a Methodist army chaplain for 24 yearsduring which time he had postings in Germany, Aldershot, Chepstow Apprentices College,Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Bovington and Belize, He also visited many other countries onexercises . Whilst minister at Broadstone in the Poole Circuit he challenged the churchwith a vision of revival, and eventually a beautiful new church was built with the combinedefforts of an energetic and lively congregation. He seemed to inspire many people duringhis life, as he was a very caring and compassionate person for everyone. He retired in2001, and continued with his duties as Dorset British Legion County chaplain and thePoole Air Force Cadets Chaplain. He also became a chaplain for SAGA round the worldcruises. Paul continued to preach in the Wimborne and Poole Circuits as long as he wasable. He touched the lives of many people as he travelled around and all were saddenedas he developed Alzheimer’s Disease. He died on 6 May 2013, in the seventy-seventhyear of his age and the fifty-second year of his ministry.Isaac Ramsay Moore: Born in Langside, Glasgow, on 18 June 1925. Ramsay waseducated locally at Battlefield Junior and Queens Park Senior schools and on leavingworked in local government. Although eligible age-wise for military service, he neverenlisted for health reasons. During a holiday at a Sidholme Methodist Guild holidayhome, Ramsay met and fell in love with Jean Goodman. They were married on 25 July1953 and there followed 53 years of happiness. In due season Ian and Christine were20 Methodist Conference Agenda 2013
Obituaries - Presbyters who have died 2012/2013born. In 1947 Ramsay offered himself and was accepted for ministry. He trained atHartley Victoria College and was always proud and grateful for its influence. He wentto St Andrews Selly Oak for missionary training. He served in the following circuits:Kendal, Leeward Islands (St Kitts), Falkirk, Wallacestone & Stirling, Barrow-in-Furness,Bristol (Staple Hill & Fishponds), London (Finchley & Hendon), and Tunbridge Wells. Onretirement in 1990 Ramsay and Jean moved to Poole, where for nine and half years heserved as chaplain to the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. He then spent threeyears in pastoral charge of Wool in the Poole Circuit. Ramsay was a faithful and loyalMethodist minister who served his Lord and master with great devotion, ever mindful ofthe solemn vows he had made at his ordination. To serve his Lord in this way was aninestimable privilege and he marvelled ever that God had called him. In all the circuitsin which he served, there are those who recall his ministry with deep gratitude andthe man himself with great affection. Following Jean’s death in 2006 he had severalspells in hospital and eventually moved to Maidment Court MHA. After 18 months hetransferred to a local care home, where he remained for next 3 years. These were painfuland irksome times, but he bore his sufferings with great Christian fortitude. He died on30 November 2012, in the eighty-eighth year of his age and the sixty-third year of hisministry.William Murphy: Born in Faversham, Liverpool, on 25 January 1930, Bill left school at16 to work in the accounts office of the Cunard Shipping Company. At 18 he joined theRAF for his national service and went to Boscombe Down. He had been very involved inthe Anglican Church during his youth, but meeting the Revd Jack Kaye led Bill to becomea Methodist. He trained at Didsbury College, Bristol. He married Joy, a nurse, in 1963.She became his life partner and active participant in his ministry. They had four children- Craig, Andrew, David and Corinne; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Heserved in the following circuits: Basingstoke, London Mission (Wandsworth Road), Dorkingand Horsham, London (Harrow) and Amersham. While at Harrow, he was involved in aseven-month exchange in Kenya, during which he was superintendent of two circuits atthe same time: the large Kariokor and the Charles New Circuits. Bill and Joy retired tothe Vale of Aylesbury Circuit. His retirement saw the development of a new sphere ofministry. From the tragedy of his daughter Corinne’s road accident and brain injury camethe transforming vision of improving life for needy children in Kenya, and the KaribuniTrust came into being in 1995. Under Bill’s leadership, the charity grew from the smallestof beginnings to one which currently supports more than 1,200 children in 14 projects.In the process, many children’s lives have been turned around. Bill and his wife Joyvisited Kenya at least once every year to share with staff and children in the projectsand to ensure that the Trust’s funds were being put to best use. He was a leader withreal charisma and stubborn determination, a caring pastor and passionate preacher. Hisinspiration will live on in the lives of thousands of people across the world. He died on 13November 2012, in the eighty-third year of his age and the fifty-third year of his ministry.Methodist Conference Agenda 2013 21
Page 3: ‘Death is swallowed upin victory
Page 8 and 9: Obituaries - Presbyters who have di
Page 19: Obituaries - Presbyters who have di
Page 40 and 41: Obituaries - Deacons who have died
Page 48: ©Trustees for Methodist Church Pur

Obituaries - Methodist Conference

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?