The Revd Kenneth Denman: 1935-2023
Baptist minister who led churches in Scotland, Teesside and Devon - and would occasionally contribute to the BBC
My father Revd Kenneth Denman was born in 1935 in Leeds to parents Frank and Lilian Denman. He had a sister Iris and brother Francis.
Following school, he worked in an accountants' office in the centre of Leeds.
He converted in 1950 and later went to Moorlands Bible College for three years. He first thought of missionary service with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship and to gain experience worked with the Faith Mission for two years, where he worked on and off the West Coast of Scotland, in the Highlands and Islands.
When the door to missionary work closed, he pursued the Baptist ministry with the Baptist Union of Scotland. My father was ordained to the ministry in 1963 and his first pastorate was in Kirkwall, Orkney. This was a new church and he was its first minister.
He married Janet (Robson) in 1966 - they were young people together in the East Grange Baptist Church, Leeds.
Our first home was in Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth, Scotland where I was born (Catherine). Three years later in Perth Louise was born and their third daughter Alison was born in Elgin.
While in Lossiemouth dad had the privilege of conducting the morning service on the BBC Radio Four Program (from the church). Also, while in Elgin, dad had the privilege of giving "Thought for the Day" (through the week) on both BBC Radio Grampian and BBC Radio Inverness.
We spent a number of years in Lerwick, Shetland and later in Billingham, Teeside. Dad's last full-time charge was in Peterhead, on the East Coast of Scotland, where he suffered a heart attack. He then took a part time pastorate in North Devon in a small village called Newton St Petrock.
He stayed there beyond retirement age and finally retired to Minehead in 2001. The Retired Baptists Ministers Housing Society kindly put at their disposal a lovely bungalow.
My parents regularly tried to visit Australia, where my sister Louise lived, and they enjoyed spending time with their lovely grandchildren, Jack and Oliver.
We are immensely proud of our wonderful father and are honoured to write this memoir.
Catherine E Denman