Rev. David Purling

Rev. David Purling with his wife Judith, pictured in 2010 in front of the quilt which Judith made for the community centre.

We are greatly saddened to announce the death in Adelaide Australia, of one of our former ministers, Rev. David Purling. He died peacefully in the night with his wife Judith by his side and all the family had visited him the previous day.

David has been ill from the effects of a very rare cancer and for the last year, has been in a residential care facility a short distance from their home. Judith said that the staff there loved him and he seemed to have endeared himself to them. The majority of the staff are from overseas and he had learned a few words in each language so he could greet them and thank them. This will sound so typical of the man that many of us were fortunate to have as our minister from 2001 to 2003.

Having retired from full-time ministry, he came back to preach at Buckingham Street during a visit here in 2010. Then in 2013, he preached here again and joined other former youth exchange leaders on a visit to Berlin with our German counterparts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the exchange.

Judith, his family and friends are all in our thoughts and prayers. We are saddened by his loss but enriched with many happy memories of him.