If you’ve ever tried to slip into the back pews of Scots’ Church, Melbourne, you’ve more than probably had a mature-aged gentleman come and welcome you, inquiring about where you were from, and generally making you feel at home.
It’s happened to me, and that man is the Reverend Geoffrey Blackburn, who concluded his service as minister of pastoral care with Scots’ Church at the fine age of 97.
Thanks to Senior Pastor Douglas Robertson for linking to this Melbourne Age article noting Rev. Blackburn’s extraordinary ministry.
AFTER 78 years of ministry, the Reverend Geoffrey Blackburn, 97, yesterday delivered his last sermon at Melbourne’s Scots’ Church.
Mr Blackburn began his career at 19, when he became a home missionary out of ”a desire to help people”. ”In some ways [I feel] sorry to be leaving. It’s been a happy time here,” he said. With his wife, Jessie, by his side, he said: ”It’ll be nice to retire … [but] we won’t be retiring completely because we’ll be keeping in touch with the church.”
“Geoff has been given remarkable physical health and clarity of mind … It’s this deep sense of calling which [has kept him working],” Scots’ Church senior minister, the Reverend Douglas Robertson, said.
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