On 19 October 2018, Stanley Jebb entered God’s presence, after a short illness.
Born in 1931 to a Methodist family in Sheffield, he found faith and began to preach in Methodist, Young Life and Don Summers circles and got involved with Intercessors for Britain. Training at BTI Glasgow, he became convinced of the doctrines of grace and believers’ baptism. This led to fruitful pastorates in Porthcawl, Bristol, and teaching at Birmingham Bible Institute.
With a reputation as a zealous and able Bible expositor, he moved to Dunstable in 1971, where he pastored West Street Baptist Church for 27 years. Seeking power for service, he was drawn into the Charismatic movement where he would become an important moderating influence. He introduced All Age Bible School, Pilgrim Christian School, the Leadership Training Course, a deep missionary commitment, Pastoral Counselling Course and Ministry Training Institute. Thousands have been advanced in their knowledge and service of Christ through these initiatives. He knew that growth in grace meant dying to self and reputation. His understanding of charismatic ideas falling short of Scripture made him resolve to lead his church back to cessationism.
From 1998 Stanley commenced a fruitful ‘retirement’, by helping church planting in Launceston and serving as an elder in Truro. His work for Grace Baptist Partnership, Westminster Fellowship and FIEC took him the length of the UK. He latterly served churches in Scotland before moving to St Neots. Few Christians in older years had his zeal for knowledge. His reading journal demonstrated a voracious appetite for learning to the last. His enthusiasm for God and his pursuit of excellence left a profound spiritual legacy behind him.
A large congregation at the funeral held at St Neots testified to the impact he had, with many serving God in diverse ministries because of his help. His was a life marked by the discerning pursuit of excellence, sincerity and fruitfulness through Jesus Christ to the glory of God. He leaves his wife Shirley in Edinburgh, a son and two daughters and ten grandchildren, having set the pace and marked out the way.
