Brian Norton was a leading light in EPCEW (Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales).
I met him when he was not a minister, but an elder leading Durham Presbyterian Church. He had led it from when it was a small group of seven people. Even by 2001, it was not large — about 30 or 35 people. Those were the early days of the emerging young, cool, hip church planters that were appearing on the internet scene. Brian was not one of those.
And yet… Brian’s ministry, his vision for the Great Commission and the idea of the ordinary means of grace and the richness of Reformed worship, under God, have been instrumental in establishing four other churches (Gateshead, Sheffield, Hexham and now Berlin – a body of people in the hundreds). Never judge a book by its cover.
Wisdom for ministry
Brian was interested in seeing men prepared for ministry – men of a theological mind, but also men of spiritual character. I remember his wisdom in Presbytery. Once we had a church plant in south Wales which, in the end, we had to close. There was much heart searching amongst the Presbytery. Had the young minister ‘failed’? Brian reminded us that this, in God’s gracious providence, would prepare the man better for future ministry. ‘Sometimes before God builds a church, he has to make a man’, said Brian.
Brian passed away on 21 May. In our own church we had prayed for Brian and Brenda that very evening. On the day of his funeral, one of the speakers reminded us that Brian is leaping for joy having had every tear of sorrow wiped away. Who can doubt that he has heard the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’?
