'He always insisted on the centrality of God... and his contribution to the life of the Baptists will endure'
Brian served as principal of two Baptist colleges (Northern Baptist College, 1985–94, and Bristol Baptist College, 1994–2000), as well as in the pastorates of four local churches: St George, Bristol (1965–69), South Street, Exeter (1969–1977), Mansfield Road, Nottingham (1977–85) and Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church (2000–2005). He was Baptist Union President in 1993.
He was a prolific author, prompting debates on what it means to be Baptist, a sought after preacher, and a mentor and encourager to many.
A number of people in Baptist life who knew and were shaped by Brian have offered their reflections.
‘His greatest legacy is his influence on those colleagues and students with whom he ministered’
Northern Baptist College co-principals Clara Rushbrook and Glen Marshall
Brian was a tutor at Northern Baptist College from 1981-1985 and principal from 1985-1994. His ministry amongst us came at a very significant time as the college worked with Methodist and URC partners to set up what is now the Luther King Centre for Theology Mission and Ministry. Brian Haymes was a Baptist at heart and also a committed ecumenist.
It was during Brian’s time that the college laid the foundations for its innovative work in establishing a thoroughly contextual approach to theological education, with peace and justice at its heart. Brian Haymes’ imprint as an educator is clearly visible to this day.
But Brian’s greatest legacy is his influence on those colleagues and students with whom he ministered. In recent days many have spoken with great affection of his formidable mind, his gentle demeanor, his regular encouragement, and his outstanding ability as a preacher. Brian Haymes was an exemplar of the very best qualities of Christian ministry.
In all that Brian offered to our denomination and to the wider Christian Church, he always insisted on the centrality of God and the importance of seeking to know, love and serve God with gratitude, humility, and steadfast determination. In the proper sense of the word Brian Haymes was a man of God.
‘Thoughtful theologian, wise counsellor, committed Baptist, careful ecumenist, lovely human being’
Steve Finamore, current President of our Baptist Union, and Principal of Bristol Baptist College for 17 years until 2023
President of our union, principal of two of our colleges, local church pastor, thoughtful theologian, wise counsellor, committed Baptist, careful ecumenist, lovely human being. Brian Haymes was all these things and more. His gentle and thoughtful presence was a gift to many within our networks and beyond.
At a personal level, I got to know Brian when I moved to my first pastorate in Bristol while he was principal at the local college. He was trusted by the college community and the local churches to make the radical changes needed to secure the college’s future. The Tyndale New Testament, Bristol’s prize possession, was sold, the decision was taken to move from the much-loved old building to more flexible premises, a new partnership with the local Anglican college was established, and the college became a key partner in CYM, a new programme for training Christian youth workers.
When I became college principal ten years later, Brian was constantly kind, encouraging and supportive. When the college celebrated a significant anniversary a few years ago, Brian agreed to be our preacher and delivered a fabulous sermon – it’s available to watch online – about the promises that define our lives. He spoke of his baptismal vows, his marriage vows and his ordination vows, the way they have shaped him and the way that they can only be lived as a response to the great promises that God, in his grace, has made to us.
Brian would sometimes speak of a former minister whose congregation would say of him, that when he entered the room, it was as though the presence of Jesus entered with him. For many of us, Brian, with his quiet air of calm authority, his passionate convictions and gentle manner, was like that. He was one of God’s gifts to us and I, along with many others, will always be grateful.’
‘Brian’s time as Principal was hugely significant’
Bristol Baptist College principal Peter Morden
The Bristol Baptist College community are deeply saddened at the passing of our former Principal, Brian Haymes. Brian’s time as Principal was hugely significant: a time of significant change and development, highlighted by my predecessor Steve Finamore above, which Brian led with courage and grace.
He continued to be an active supporter of the College and was extremely kind and encouraging of me personally. He will be greatly missed, and our prayers are with his family at this challenging time. Rest in peace, rise in glory.
‘Like many, most of my writing has been done because Brian expected it – and created the opportunities’
Friend and colleague, Ruth Gouldbourne, a successor at Bloomsbury and currently minister of Grove Lane Baptist Church, Cheadle Hulme
When I think of Brian: over the years when I admired him as a writer, worked with him as a colleague, succeeded him as a minister and with a sense of deep privilege, acknowledged him as a friend, it is the way he said things that come to mind.
From his phrase when teaching Baptist History and Principles; I believe absolutely in absolute truth and I know absolutely that I cannot know it, to his insistence whatever it is we are talking about when we talk about church, faith or discipleship, we start with God, his phrasing and his care with words marked him out. Nothing was said that was unfair or unclear – though when the talk turned to philosophy, he could be as clear as possible, and I still wasn’t going to get it.
The words he chose – agonised over, honed and polished – for preaching were evidence of his desire to be – as he once phrased it in Anabaptist terms, “a servant of the Word”. His attention to the nuances of language in choosing a title for the work of a BUGB committee we both served on (my first time in really getting to know him) “Transforming Superintendency”. His regular question as I plodded very slowly with my PhD – “have you written anything today?”; a question he asked me again the last time I saw him, as he urged me to the next piece of work he wanted me to write.
Like many, most of my writing has been done because Brian expected it – and created the opportunities. His encouragement when things were going badly wrong with said theses and I was surrounded by bits of paper and in tears; “Panic is part of the process and from chaos comes creation” – and he followed it up with – “here’ s a tissue, why don’t you go and see Jenny,” whose capacity to comfort distressed people was never to be underestimated.
His invitation to prayer “of your kindness, please remember before God….” His words to students and colleagues as we departed Friday lunch, preparing for a weekend which would involve preaching in a variety of churches “Preach well and keep the faith” – except for the week of Trinity Sunday, when he would remind us to do that, in the knowledge that whatever we said about the Trinity, we would be wrong, because the words would not stretch that far.
His preaching at an Ordination service for a student, when he reminded that student, and all of us, that the ordination vows lashed us to the mast so that we could not walk away (and the sight of the student’s face as that sunk in), and his final sermon at Bristol College just a couple of years ago, when he expanded on the theme of vows and explored the seriousness of the calling to ministry and the privilege of service.
Brian was a deeply private and reserved man – and so the moments when he shared himself were moments I treasure; as he moved out of public ministry, so he was able to share more of himself, and hearing him speak of his childhood, his coming to faith, his pacifist convictions – which meant that the planned army career was, in his terms , “no longer quite so obvious”, and above his longing to see the people of God be the people of God….
So many more phrases I could write down – and others will add more…but I will end with the last thing he said to me, which was always his farewell; “Go well my friend….”
‘He was the best preacher I've ever heard’
Simon Woodman, a former student of Brian’s and the current minister of Bloomsbury Baptist Church
I first met Brian when he was 'my' College Principal, and I was just 23. For nearly a year I was so intimidated by his presence that I hardly spoke in his presence. But then we discovered a shared love of motorbikes and cars, and the ice was broken.
His decision to leave College life to return to the pastorate was very influential - it spoke of his deep love of the church and his desire to serve a congregation; and when I made my own parallel move (albeit from much less lofty heights) to the same congregation some years later he was never far from my thoughts.
He was the best preacher I've ever heard, and gave the sermon at my ordination. His insistence in preaching was that it should always ultimately be about God, made known to us in Christ by the Spirit. He had little time for sermons that were more about the preacher than they were about God.
In recent years he had been working on consolidating his academic and pastoral legacy, and recently submitted his 'collected essays' which will be published in due course by the Baptist Historical Society.
We spoke regularly, at length, and he remained thoroughly engaged in Baptist life, although on occasions despairing at what he saw as a departure from the historic convictions of religious liberty that shaped the Baptists. He was committed to his ongoing personal spiritual and intellectual development, and recently read his way through David Bentley Hart's new translation of the New Testament.
He will be greatly missed by those who knew him, and his contribution to the life of the Baptists will endure.
‘Always committed to the service of other minsters’
Robert Parkinson, minister of Didsbury Baptist Church, Manchester, when Brian and Jenny became members after leaving London
In his retirement, Brian, with wife, Jenny, joined Didsbury Baptist Church in 2006 and though they removed to Crewe in 2020, they were, officially, still members when Brian so suddenly died last week. They had worshipped with us through the pandemic via Zoom and were able to connect with churches local to Crewe only after 2021. (I was minister at Didsbury from May 2007 to April 2024.)
During his time at DBC, we celebrated Brian’s 70th birthday with a surprise gathering and festschrift presentation. Brian and Jenny were always active participants and generous supporters of the church in all its worship, witness and mission. They volunteered for the church’s Friday Friends lunch club, working tirelessly in the kitchen as well as in front of house where Brian regularly delivering the devotional message.
‘Brian published several books during his time at Didsbury Baptist Church. Most were in collaboration with others. On being the Church (Haymes, Gouldbourne and Cross), Baptists and the Communion of Saints (Fiddes, Haymes and Kidd), God after Christendom (Haymes and Gingerich Hiebert), and Communion, Covenant and Creativity (Fiddes, Haymes and Kidd) come immediately to mind.
At Didsbury Baptist Church, Brian led various small groups, taught a memorable series on Baptist History and Identity, and participated in the church’s preaching and teaching programme. Brian twice took over my ministerial duties so that I could take sabbatical study leave. He led worship and preached often in local churches, and led a successful area-wide Anabaptist study group.
Brian took an active interest in the faith development of young people and was a great encourager of the faith of the young. He took a genuine interest in the academic work of others and provided generous encouragement to both the work and faith of graduate students especially those working in theology and biblical studies. Always committed to the service of other minsters, Brian was a faithful and generative participant in our Faith Thinking group for area Baptist ministers.
For me, as minister, Brian was always available, whether in person or by telephone, to discuss theological issues and matters of biblical interpretation. Entirely supportive, I could always count on him to offer me kind, honest assessment and wise counsel.
An engaging conversationalist, he always had a book to recommend and ideas to explore. He held heartfelt hopes and dreams for Christians and churches everywhere, especially for those of Baptist identity.
He became a great and trusted friend. I will miss him terribly.
Further reading:
Baptist Times, 24/07/2024