Dr. Peter Golding

From Paul Golding; One of my earliest memories is of Dad's annual homecoming from the Leicester minister conference, I remember the anticipation and then the joy when the car drew up; Dad's back and always with carefully chosen gifts - I remember a red racing car for me. At home, in the week, Dad always took time with us; collecting conkers, a trip to the station to watch the intercity trains - I can vividly recall the heat, the rush of air, the noise, the speed but above all Dad was there. Trips to Osterley park, climbing up to Dad's study to play with dad's trains, cricket in the garden and most importantly Dad was there. Dad's devotion to Mum was absolute; truly in sickness and health, a constant, the trials and grief over Mum's hospitalization and subsequent accident, translated directly into power and urgency from the pulpit. Husband, pastor, carer, father, friend as the burdens grew so did the supply of God's grace through Dad, a spiritual and physical north star around which the whole family turned, constant and unwavering, his faith like a river deep and unmoved derived and flowing from Christ alone. His afflictions, troubles providing spiritual insight into Gods hidden purposes and providence to many hearers and readers alike. The biblical phrase of troubles producing a harvest of righteousness comes to mind. And through all of this Dad's wit and homour were ever present from impressions of MLJ to an incident at a church service recalled by Jonathan Hayles which summed up Dad's style of humour, this coupled with a word in season, never openly rattled, encouraging, challenging when he needed to be, generous with his time, gracious, slow to anger, self- giving, he invested in all of us. Michael and Brian were treated like sons and Ineke as a daughter. Dad's compassion was not only reserved for lost souls but for the destitute, the forgotten and those unable to speak or stand up for themselves. He would set of in sports jacket, deer stalker hat and walk into Hayes town where he would return home with as he described the down and outs - one of whom, George, comes to mind. Dad found George cowering amongst cardboard boxes at the back of Sainsbury's and brought him home for tea. Dad's calling was his joy pointing others to Christ, never happier than presenting and proclaiming the gospel, by the Word. Our Dad's name Peter means, a rock. Christ said on this rock I will build my church and that's what our Dad, Peter Golding, did. He built a solid foundation of teaching rooted in God's Word not only in Hayes Town Chapel but also in our, his children's families. His example was self-effacing, not introspective but looking to Christ. When the older generation speak of their remembrances of Dad at HTC the overriding recollection is not of personality traits, style of worship, leadership style but of his presentation of Gods Word, one of consistent biblical teaching over a long period of time. Some memories fade in time, Dad's legacy, the inheritance he spoke of and of which he now partakes will never fade or spoil because it is built on Gods Word, on his rock of salvation. A servant, a signpost and evangelist pointing to the cross of Christ, a fisher of men, he invested in Gods Word, in his people, into us, his children's children. When Mum was dying in the hospital, Dad ended up in the ward just down the corridor from mum and he said to me ‘ I am just a poor sinner saved by grace and it has been a privilege to tell others the way of salvation'. It has been a privilege, an honour, a joy for all of us to have been given such a father. His anticipation has now ended replaced by joy and peace in the presence of His Lord and Saviour.