The national press reported the tragic death of a young Christian couple in April, including their parents’ testimony of faith spoken in the first moments of their grief.
Toby and Milly Savill were in a vehicle accident on the Greek island of Santorini when they went to be with their Lord Jesus Christ.
Milly’s father, Steve Coulson, the vicar of St Mark’s Kennington in south London, paid tribute to the couple and said: ‘Toby and Milly were passionate about their Christian faith, and we are being sustained by the same sure hope of Easter resurrection.’
Durham CU
Toby and Milly served in Durham’s Christian Union. Toby as CU President and Milly as Evangelism Secretary. They both went on to teach, Toby as a secondary school history teacher and Milly at a primary school. UCCF were looking forward to working with them once again when Toby was to take up a UCCF Staff Worker role in the summer of 2019 with students in London.
UCCF Director Richard Cunningham said, ‘We are heartbroken as a Fellowship that Toby and Milly have been taken from their family and friends at such a young age. Their faith in the Lord Jesus and the warmth of their friendship inspired and continues to inspire those they served within CU and church. They will be dearly missed, not just as servants of the gospel, but especially as friends to so many. As Toby and Milly’s families and friends seek to come to terms with this tragic early parting and look to Jesus for hope and comfort, all of the UCCF family hold them before the Lord in our prayers.’
The funeral for Toby and Milly was held on 11 May at St Mark’s. The church was filled with 500 people, and the service was relayed outside to a similar number. The sermon was mainly from John 11. The reality of grief being real and death being terrible was recognised. But hope is sure because Jesus has conquered death. The challenge that Jesus gave to Martha was included: whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?
