The Revd John Trevor Perry: 1930-2024
Baptist minister who led Partnership Missions in the UK
John went to Counterslip Baptist Church in Bristol where he organised youth trips and was challenged when the minister, John Wills, was killed on his motorbike travelling to the maternity hospital to visit his wife.
He trained at Bristol Baptist College and had first ministries at Balham Baptist Church (London) where he met his wife, the late Irene Perry (nee Perkins) and then leadership of their satellite church at Bonneville. The Revd David Shepherd (close family friend/ex England captain/Bishop of Liverpool) married him and Irene Perry in 1959. Twin daughters were born in 1962.
He was minister at Welwyn Garden City and Cippenham (near Slough) Baptist churches, and this included innovative ministries with youth and lay witness, firstly through Witness Involvement Now (WIN) then Partnership Missions (which he led in the UK). In 1979 he felt called to follow this longstanding ministry doing this full time until his retirement.
After a few years with dementia, he died peacefully on 12 September aged 94, having consistently asked his daughter in the last two days to "open the door".
The door opened and he is now with his Lord.
Marion O’Loughlin (one of John’s twin daughters)