A Memorial for Peggy
Peggy was a founder member of our congregation and supporter of ACC in it's early days :
With both sadness and joy we remember the life of Peggy Turner, a founding mother of Auckland Community Church. She died peacefully on Thursday 19th April, she was 96 years old. Hector Cumming, an ACC mmember since 1994 wrote the following tribute to Peggy on our behalf.
Peggy was in charge of the flower roster and needed helpers, so I offered to help. Peggy, a strong-willed, though gentle person asked what experience had I in arranging flowers. At that time I did not know Peggy, or I would have replied “I’m gay, what other credentials do I need.” Instead I wittered on about arranging the flowers in St Andrews, Symond’s Street, when my Father was the minister there, some thirty years ago. Peggy offered to help me with the flowers, though we both understood that I was under inspection.
Over the years we got to know each other and I remember sitting with others from ACC, at Peggy’s being taught how to make Palm Crosses. The crosses were made in all shapes and sizes.
Peggy liked to tell me this story. Some 25 years ago, a group of gay christians met with the ministers of St Matthew’s and asked if they could use the church for an evening service. Peggy with her husband Hec , attended that initial meeting which set up ACC.
The congregation of St Matthew’s were concerned as to what gay persons might or would get up to in St Matthew’s in the evening, so Peggy and her husband said that they would attend ACC and report back. They became regular attendees, the elderly Anglican couple , wrapped in their rugs and surrounded by gay men. Peggy said of ACC
“Hec and I have always felt privileged to be so warmly encircled by ACC over the years. It was all new to us at the beginning, and we hope we have helped the unhappy and confused to become their true selves. We certainly have made some wonderful friends”
Peggy, on behalf of ACC I thank you for your friendship and for your love and support over the years.
Contacts:
by email: info@aucklandcommunitychurch.org.nz
by phone: Cathy and Liz (64)(09)578 1292 or Hugh Dyson (64)(09)579 1850
by snail mail: c/- 187 Federal Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
This date was last updated on 9th March 2006 - the page may have been updated later than this!
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