New minister leads Umbilo congregation

MINISTER, Peter Crundwell, has come out of retirement to lead the congregation at Umbilo Methodist Church.

“I am enjoying the variety of people and the warmth of the community. They are such a committed group, and I am also enjoying exploring parts of the community, which are very different to Hillcrest,” he said.

Peter was born in Cape Town and trained as a teacher. He taught at Grey High in Port Elizabeth and was called to ministry at the age of 23. He worked for the Christian organisation, Scripture Union for years before marrying his wife Priscilla. The couple made the decision to move to England where he trained at St John’s College Nottingham.

“I returned to South Africa and entered the ministry at Kingswood College in Grahamstown as school chaplain, where I served for eight years. I was then called to Fischoek where I worked for five years, before being invited to be chaplain at Kearsney College for six years. This was my first venture into KZN,” he said.

Peter then served as the minister at Kloof Methodist Church for 14 years until he retired.

“I received a call in December to come to Umbilo Methodist Church, and I agreed. It’s been nice to minister again, and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity,” he said.

Peter and Priscilla have four children, two sons and two daughers, as well as 10 grandchildren.

In his spare time he enjoys art and painting and plays the trumpet ‘a little’.

“I also write a bit and like gardening. I was a keen cyclist for a long time, but now I walk. I also spend a lot of time with my grandchildren who live in this country, and look forward to going to the UK in May to see my new twin grandsons!” he said.