Norman “ Dennis ” Corden : 12.12.1926 - 29.02.2024
Dennis Corden was a lifelong Methodist , having grown up and been nurtured in the Sunday School and Boys ’ Brigade of Hainton Avenue Methodist Church in Grimsby . After serving in the Army in Egypt and Palestine ( including time spent in what is now Gaza ) from 1945-48 , he returned to Grimsby to start work .
He became a BB Officer and then felt the call to become a Local Preacher . He was accredited and admitted to full plan in 1955 and served first in the Grimsby Circuit and then , after moving to Market Rasen in 1964 , for the next 50 years in the Market Rasen & Caistor Circuit .
As early as the 1950s , Dennis became active in the Methodist Local Preachers ’ Mutual Aid Association ( LPMA ). In 1970 , he was elected to the LPMA General Committee , on which he served for 35 years , and in 1984-85 he was elected by his peers to be National President , a role which involved him preaching all over the country on well over 40 of the 52 Sundays in the year . The following year Dennis was appointed Honorary Secretary ( LPMAHomes ), a role which meant he had ultimate responsibility for the five care homes across the country , and in which he served for nine years .
In 2015 , at the age of 89 , Dennis finally decided that he did not have the physical strength to carry on leading worship . However , he was determined that he should not receive his ‘ 60 Years ’ certificate without taking one last service in his 60th year as a preacher !
In those 60 years , he led worship in almost every corner of Lincolnshire Methodism – his meticulous records reveal that he led worship in a total of 162 Lincolnshire churches and chapels in that time . And , because of his professional career in the farming industry , Dennis was in great demand each autumn for Harvest Festivals !
Through LPMA , he also preached in churches in almost every Methodist District across the Connexion – another 200 + from Scotland to Cornwall and from London to the Isle of Man . It is almost impossible to know how many acts of worship Dennis led in his life , but the figure is definitely well over 2000 .
Even over the last couple of years – living in a care home and unable to walk – he continued his faithful witness to the end of his life . On February 10th , just 19 days before he died , Dennis attended his last service at his beloved Market Rasen Methodist Church , his spiritual home for almost 60 years .
Although wheelchair-bound , he read the Gospel passage – Christ ’ s Transfiguration – with such clarity and meaning that all who heard him were amazed and moved . In the end , he simply went to sleep on the evening of Thursday February 29th and did not wake up – what a wonderful way to leave this earthly life .
Dennis touched the lives of so many people through his preaching and witness . May he rest in peace and rise in glory .
We give vocational grants to those needing financial help to pursue their ministry .
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Grants
Grants can be used towards fees and materials for any recognised course that enables you to explore or develop your preaching skills . To find out more visit lwpt . org . uk / vocational-grants