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Peter Sanderson, 1942-2007

Obituary

Peter Sanderson was a true Yorkshire man and servant of God. He was born in Sheffield on October 14 1942 and was brought up in a non-Christian home but was sent to Sunday School. At 15 he started work and trained as a dental technician.

He met and married his wife Norma and they had a son and a daughter. They attended a Baptist Church in Sheffield where John Turner was the pastor and where Peter was baptised.

Peter felt a call to the ministry and because, by this time, he had his own business was able to work four days a week to support his family and do his theology studies with the Evangelical Movement of Wales based at Bryntirion one day a week which took him four years to complete.

Tenterden

In 1984 Peter was called to the Pastorate at Trinity Baptist Church, Tenterden, Kent, and at his induction on September 15, John Turner gave the charge to Peter and encouraged him to ‘Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands’ (2 Timothy 1.6). Peter was a humble man and he had a steadfast diligence and devotion to duty as a pastor, ably supported by his wife Norma, and his love for the church was abundantly manifested not only in the faithful preaching of the gospel but also in a practical and consistent demonstration of the love of Christ as a true friend through his prayers, care, visits, guidance and counsel.

He was also secretary for the Kent Evangelical Ministers Fraternal and his contributions to that had over the years been well received.

No complaints

In 2000 Peter had to undergo a triple heart bypass operation and recovered fully to continue his ministry, but in 2005 he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to lay down his duties as a pastor in 2006. During his illness he did not complain but left his future in God’s hands and was more concerned about other people’s difficulties rather than his own.

He went to be with his Lord and Saviour on December 1 2007 and at his Thanksgiving service on December 11 tributes were paid by Chris Mercer on behalf of Trinity Baptist Church, John Turner and Michael Holmes as long standing friends and Paul Harper on behalf of the family. The church was full which was a testimony of the love everybody had towards Peter.

Our prayers and Christian love go out to Norma, his children and grandchildren, that God will fill their emptiness with his love and comfort.

Chris Mercer