GORDON “KEITH” CHURCHILL BA, M.Div, D.Min (1939-2013) of Greenwich, NS. A gentle man has gone quietly toward a new horizon. Keith was born in Sydney, NS, the son of Rev Ernest and Blanche Churchill who were pastoring in Mira, CB. His public schooling took place in Digby, NS where he was active in student affairs. While at Acadia University, he became student council president. After graduation as a math major, he decided to go into pastoral ministry. Student pastorates were at Port Bickerton and Spryfield. He chose Union Theological Seminary in New York to take his theological training, graduating in 1964.
Returning to the Maritimes, he accepted the position as Associate Pastor at First Baptist, Amherst. Subsequently, he served as senior pastor at Lancaster Baptist, St John NB, First Baptist Lethbridge, AB, West Point Grey Baptist, Vancouver, BC and Trinity Baptist, Sherwood Park, AB. While serving as pastor he completed studies for a doctoral degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. In 1995 he became Area Minister for the Baptist Union of Western Canada, now Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, – an area that stretched from the Arctic Circle to the US border. After retirement, Keith did interim ministries in Vancouver, White Rock, BC, Toronto, Edmonton, Middleton, Margaretsville and Bridgetown. His work was thoughtful, his love was genuine and his ministries effective. He married Joan Neily, North Kingston, NS in 1968. In 1970 their son, Jeffery Churchill, (Vancouver, BC) was born.
Keith passed away December 7, 2013 in his home after a two year struggle with Lymphoma. His primary work and first love was to serve the worship and witness needs of a congregation. But his interest went beyond that to a larger field of service – participating in US civil rights demonstrations, visiting the work of world missions in Africa and India, spending a sabbatical building houses in Nicaragua, serving as local president of the Interchurch Council. Keith was an avid Scouter, became Queen Scout, attended a Jamboree in 1958. In 2010 he was made a Baden-Powell Fellow under the patronage of the King of Sweden. He was an admitted news junkie reading several newspapers a day. He loved old movies. The more often he watched Casablanca the better. Listening to jazz music, reading, feeding birds and enjoying his grand boys were treasured times.
Keith is survived by his wife, Joan, Greenwich NS; son, Jeff (Devony) and grandsons, Hayden and Callum, Vancouver; brother, Rev. Dr. John Churchill (Lana) and the families of their children, Laura, Sharon and James; Aunt Minnie Clayton, Halifax; Special Niece Darlene; numerous cousins and friends from Coast to Coast to Coast. He was predeceased by his parents. Cremation and burial have taken place. A Service of Celebration will be held at Port Williams United Baptist Church on December 11, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow. No flowers by request.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Port Williams United Baptist Church, Box 301, Port Williams, NS. BOP ITO or Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 1269 Stn K, Toronto, ON M4P 9Z9. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. On-line inquiries may be directed towww.whitefamilyfuneralhome.
Please pray for Keith’s wife Joan, his family and friends during this difficult time.