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Leslie Rawlinson, 1929-2008

Obituary

Born in Liverpool, Leslie Rawlinson attended the London College of Divinity and was subsequently appointed as a curate in the Church of England, before becoming the vicar of St. Anne’s in Nottingham. It was here, in the late 1960s, that he became very concerned about various developments in the CofE which ultimately led to his resignation.

In mid-1969, within a few months of Holywell Free Church in Loughborough commencing, his name was brought to the officers’ attention as a potential pastor. His call by the church was unanimous and in April 1970 he moved with his wife Sarah, and children Ruth and John, to become the first minister of Holywell.

Under his godly ministry and example, the church grew and experienced great blessing and encouragement. Many of the church’s current activities started during his tenure.

New building

In 1987, two years after the church’s own building was opened (having met previously in a school), Leslie Rawlinson resigned his ministry at Holywell and moved to become the minister of Mount Road Baptist Church in Hinckley where he remained until his retirement from full-time pastoral ministry in 1994. During his time there he began part-time lecturing at the London Theological Seminary and, in 1994, he joined the staff of LTS, lecturing in Greek, Hebrew and Pastoral Theology.

After then retiring to North Wales for a time, he and Sarah moved to the Pilgrim Home in Wellsborough, Leicestershire, for about two years, before returning to Loughborough. During his last few years he increasingly suffered from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, but was graciously released from further suffering by going to be with his Lord on November 19 2008. The funeral service was held at Holywell on December 2 and was led by Dr. Philip Eveson, the Principal of LTS, who also preached.

Leslie Rawlinson is remembered with much gratitude for his evident love of God, for his faithful ministry of the Word, for his pastoral care of the fellowship both in Loughborough and elsewhere, and for his example of a life lived fully for his Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

‘… and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade Ð kept in heaven for you …’ (1 Peter 1.4).

John Mitchell,
elder, Holywell Free Church