Sunday, April 26, 2009

Peter Toon, 1939 – 2009


Peter Toon, 1939 – 2009

Peter, son of Thomas Arthur and Hilda Toon, was born in Yorkshire, England, soon after the start of World War II. After him came Paul, David and Christine. He attended Hemsworth Grammar School, Cliff College, Sheffield; King’s College, London; The University of Liverpool and Christ Church, Oxford University. He held three Masters’ degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford.

He was married to Vita for forty-seven years and they have one daughter, Deborah, who lives in California, and is married to Michael, a Naval Officer. Vita is a graduate of London and Oxford Universities, while Deborah is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville and the University of Texas at Austin.

After teaching religious studies in a College, Peter was ordained in the Church of England in 1973 in the Diocese of Liverpool. Since then he has served in parishes in both England and the U.S.A. and also as a theologian in theological houses in the U.S.A. and in England. In the last decade of his working life, he served the Prayer Book Society of the U.S.A. as its President and C E O.

Peter wrote and had published over twenty-five books, together with booklets, essays, articles. He also wrote many opinion pieces for the web. He edited Home Words in England from 1985-2001 and The Mandate in the U.S.A. from 1995 to 2008. He was much committed to The Anglican Way as Reformed Catholicism, and to the importance of the historical Formularies—Articles , BCP and Ordinal. The woes of the Anglican Communion in recent days much distressed him.

As he died on Saturday, April 25th in San Diego, and as virtually all Vita’s and Peter’s relatives and friends are thousands of miles away, there was no public funeral in California, only a service for the family based on the classic BCP. It is hoped that his remains may be interred in the family grave in Yorkshire.
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May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace: And light perpetual shine upon them.


7 comments:

Rev. Dr. Hassert said...

Defender of the Catholic Faith, rest in peace.

Alban+ said...

I knew him and admired him.May he rest in peace and rise in glory

Alice C. Linsley said...

I'm so sorry to read of Dr. Toon's death. This last year he endured great pain from his deteriorating condition. Now he enjoys the repose of the Saints.

I'm grateful also for the year that he so graciously mentored me so that I might understand the Anglican Way.

May his memory be eternal!

Kevin said...

Orthodox Anglicanism has lost one of it's best minds and greatest defenders, he shall be sorely missed.

Fr William Bauer said...

Peter was a classic and unique individual, true to his Saviour and strongly evangelical. His human side was ever-present, and I am glad to have known him

Unknown said...

One of the giants has passed from amongst us...Dr. Toon was a huge influence here, through his books and other writings. Men of Dr. Toon's commitments are finding themselves fewer and fewer on the ground.

Term Paper said...

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