The Revd Stephen Lawrence Moore: 1939–2016  

'Many can testify to his gentle and peaceful spirit and are grateful to have had their lives strengthened by this loving, kind, thoughtful minister, who had a passion rooted in the Gospel'

Stephen Moore was born in Leicester and baptized at Hinckley Baptist Church, aged 17. After an apprenticeship in the motor industry, he worked as an automotive engineer and later for London Transport in the Public Relations department. He sensed a call to ministry and trained at Manchester College. After being a pastor at Isleworth he served in ministry for many years at Hinckley with the Revd Frank Goodwin. He was then called to Loughborough. It was here that he met Jayne, who he married in 1991.

In 1990, Stephen was called to Huddersfield in Yorkshire and for the rest of his ministry he served a number of churches in the town. He was pastor at Lockwood, Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite during these years and then, in1999, he was appointed as hospital chaplain to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, where he served NHS staff and patients for 14 years until his failing health forced him into retirement in November 2013.

Apart from these formal roles, Stephen acted as Moderator for a number of churches in the area and was warmly welcomed as a preacher. He served on the Ministry group of the Yorkshire Baptist Association for many years and also was secretary for the local ministers’ meeting.

In these different ministry settings Stephen served conscientiously and faithfully. Many can testify to his gentle and peaceful spirit and are grateful to have had their lives strengthened by this loving, kind, thoughtful minister. He had a passion rooted in the Gospel and, not long before he passed into fuller glory on 19 February, he talked about his confidence in God – “I know in whom I have believed” he said.

We give thanks to God for a faithful ministry and remember in our prayers his wife Jayne and their daughters Rachel and Rebecca.
 

The Revd W Ernie Whalley
May 2016