The Revd Donald Louis Cranefield: 1923-2023
 

'He remained constant in his faith and true to his calling as a pastor, always interested in church life, people and their lives'

On October 4 1923 Donald Louis Cranefield was born in South East London to Louis Henry Cranefield, a stall holder at Billingsgate Fish market and Mary Ann Cranefield, with his sister Mavis he completed the family.

In Donald's own words: 

'My parents were both zealous members of our local Baptist church in Bermondsey, and it was there I grew up and found friends. A scholarship at The Roan School for Boys in Greenwich introduced me to new friends and wider horizons, which rapidly increased with the commencement of the 1939-45 war and evacuation to Bexhill. 

'It was there I met Gladys, a pupil at The Roan School for Girls who later became my wife. We then moved with the school to Ammanford in South Wales. 

'Having for some time a call to the Baptist ministry, I began preaching in local churches. In the summer of 1942, I was “called up” straight from school before my 18th birthday, to join The Royal Navy. Almost straight away, I was serving on the Arctic convoys as a Seaman. My time at sea was spent largely in Arctic gloom, chipping the ice daily from the muzzles of our guns and from the decks. Always the dark seas; star shells at night to reveal lurking submarines, freezing breath on our balaclavas, and always the dread in the dark of a sudden attack and death in the freezing seas. I received my commission and served with coastal forces. I was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette for “courage and devotion to duty in hazardous and important operations”.

'On release from the Navy in 1946, I took up my place at Spurgeon’s College in South London to train for the Baptist ministry and was ordained in 1949. I served first at South Lee Baptist church (1949-1956) then at Southall Baptist Church (1956-1973) and finally at Bromley Baptist Church (1973-1989).'
 

As a member of Southall Baptist Church wrote:

'The influence Donald had on me in those days is forever remembered as I became a Christian through his ministry as did so many of my friends. He was also fun to be with, had a real sense of humour which came to the fore when we were on youth holidays or youth weekends. His sermons were always very clear, and he would always set the scene if talking about the parables or miracles.

'Yes, he was extremely gifted in so many ways, and I’m pleased his life was long because he had so much to give.' 


And a more personal comment from Peter, one of Donald’s five grandsons;

'Grandad was always curious, always wanted to talk about you and your life, to know your opinion even if you were only 12. He laughed and he listened and got stuck in to cricket or football, in what I now realise was his 70s. He was calm, understated about his own achievements, but always meeting with people and trying to connect and support them.'
 
Following his retirement, Donald continued to be active in church life and developed his artistic skills, becoming so accomplished that he was able to sell his work to supplement his pension. Dad looked after Gladys throughout her illness until her death. Well into his 90s, Donald still attended and was active in not one but two churches.

Donald always remained constant in his faith and true to his calling, always interested in church life, people and their lives. He once said that he always felt his ministry, put simply, was to help people understand the Bible and to live by it. Donald always “practised what he preached” and would rise early before the rest of the family to spend time in prayer, and he lived his life, until the end faithfully and humbly following his calling to be a pastor.


Photo | Donald Cranefield and wife Gladys during their time at Bromley Baptist Church

 

Eulogy read by Donald's son Michael Cranefield at his funeral on Friday, 23 June, 2023