The Revd Peter Egginton: 1927-2018

Baptist minister, magistrate and secretary of West Midland Baptist Association and Trust Association, who despite his many gifts for administration was never a bureaucrat

 
The funeral service of the Revd Peter Egginton took place on 5 April 2018 at Warley Baptist Church in the West Midlands, where he had been minister and to which he and his wife Mary returned on retirement. It was conducted by the Revd David Tennant, and preceded by a private family cremation. He was 91.
 
He was born in Southend-on-Sea. The family, including Susan, were involved with Avenue Baptist Church Westcliffe. His father worked in the city in banking. On leaving school, Peter joined the bank, but changed to the Spectator magazine, signing up advertising copy. It was war time; he was called up and joined the RAF. After working for an insurance company, he had an interview with the Home Office, but settled instead with YMCA and enjoyed it. Being prompted by three different people (including his minister) about Baptist ministry, he accepted a place for training at Bristol College. He met Mary in Bristol and they were married at Westbury Baptist Church. 
 
In 1955 Peter graduated and settled in North Devon at the Frithelstock group of four small Baptist churches. A different time and place for them both – no electricity in the manse! In 1959 he became minister at Warley Baptist Church and stayed until 1979. He became a magistrate and did some part-time teaching. 
 
During his time at Warley he became hon secretary for West Midland Baptist Association and Trust Association, in 1970 part-time secretary, and in 1979 full time and paid. He remained in the post until retirement in 1992. He served on Baptist Union Council, many sub committees and regional ecumenical bodies and saw the association expand with staff, mission projects, the Asian Mission and Advice Centre and the purchase and running of St Edwards Conference Centre at Malvern, where he and Mary lived. In many ways he was a pioneer.
 
Peter had many gifts, especially in administration, but he was never a bureaucrat. He remained a Baptist minister with a strong pastoral ministry remembered by people at Warley, committee members and staff of WMBA and many ministers. He didn’t suffer fools gladly and had remarkable patience.
 
He loved music, gardening, walking the dog and holidays. His family were very special to him: Mary, Stephen and Dorinda and family; Jane and Tony and Alexis and Blake.
 
He died peacefully in a care home, remembered there as a gentleman.
 
 

The Revd David Tennant