Parish mourns loss of church stalwart Peter

PARISHIONERS belonging to St Mary’s CoE Church in Alverstoke are mourning the death of a hardworking and well-loved member of the local community.

The tragic loss of Peter Camp – who had been found dead at his home this week – was revealed on Wednesday, February 8, in a special edition of the online parish magazine.

Alverstoke’s Rector, the Rev Andy Norris announced: “We’re very sad to share the news that our rock at St Mary’s, Peter Camp BEM has unexpectedly died.

“This news will come as an awful shock to many people in the parish where truly, for very many years, Peter has been true to his biblical namesake – and has been a solid, steadfast and unassuming ‘rock’ in the church”.

“In grief we can only say ‘thank you Lord’ for Peter who is held with such love and affection among us.

“It is important to let our community know of this sad news at the earliest opportunity hence this extra parish mailing today.”

“This news is from last night when concerned friends and neighbours had called the police who then discovered that Peter had passed in his home.”

“Peter was such a quiet servant who sought never to be in the limelight but who, behind the scenes, enabled our parish life to flourish, to serve the community and grow.  Community and national recognition of this was expressed when Peter was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen in the new years list of 2015.  Her Majesty made Peter a ‘Medalist of the Order of the British Empire’ -BEM.”

“We had a moving communion at 10.00am in St Mary’s this morning.”

“Peter always ‘prepared’ everything for us so we were a bit at a loss!  Even so, the readings were of Candlemas and it seemed very apt that, for a man who you could say had served every single day in the church for so long in the style of Simeon, we read with tears (and from the Prayer Book) the Nunc Dimittis:”

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

“Peter does have a brother and close friends whilst for me personally he was a strength, reliable rock and a confidant.  We’ll profoundly miss him, but to God we say: Thank you Lord for Peter.”

PICTURED FROM THE PARISH WEEKLY MAGAZINE: Popular St Mary’s Church, Alverstoke, parishioner Peter Camp is being mourned following his recent passing.