Peter Sanlon writes: For 26 years the Revd Melvin Tinker led what grew to be one of the largest churches in north east England, in the city of Hull which has the lowest per capita church attendance of the country.
Alongside that, he published over 17 books that offered clarity in confused times. Whether engaging the culture or challenging the church, Melvin was, in the words of Professor Kevin Vanhoozer, the ‘consummate pastor-theologian’.
Coming from a Nottingham mining home, Melvin came to love books at school. More importantly, he was brought to faith in Jesus by a Methodist lay preacher whose family befriended him while at school. Melvin said: ‘They were kind, there was no pressure – just genuine faith.’ As soon as he arrived at Hull University in 1973, Melvin began speaking at the CU and was thrilled to discover somebody became a Christian at his first talk.
Church politics was part of his ministry: founding member of REFORM; CEEC Council; speaker at NEAC 3. Melvin came to believe that faithful care of his church required him to lead it out of the Church of England, in 2020. His church was the largest congregation yet to secede and is now a network of growing churches in Hull. Melvin was the founding Chair of Trustees for Anglican Futures, which provides practical and pastoral support to faithful Anglicans, whose director, Susie Leafe, said: ‘He stood out in his generation as a preacher and author who expected the word of God to cause a revolution in hearts, lives and churches. We will miss his wisdom and spontaneous generosity.’
Professor Don Carson said: ‘When Melvin Tinker comes to mind, I instinctively identify him with Valiant for Truth. Yet that says too little. Yes, he was a stalwart defender of confessional evangelicalism, but he was also a clear preacher of the gospel. Yes, he wrote several compelling popular-level books, but he was first and foremost a pastor who loved his flock. Yes, he was an able preacher, but the last ten or 15 years showed him to be a careful strategist. When he and Heather spent their six-month long-service-leave at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, they plunged into campus life and heartily participated in the life and prayers of our Spiritual Formation Group. I rarely talked with him without hearing what he was praying for – including my own family. I shall miss him, and already look forward to renewing fellowship in the new heaven and the new earth.’
Melvin Tinker went to glory on 23 November 2021 aged 66 and is survived by his wife, Heather and three sons: Christopher, Michael and Philip.
Melvin Tinker 1955–2021
