The Revd Peter Robson RIP
Bishop.Chaplain
We are sad to announce that Revd. Peter Robson passed away in the early hours on Sunday 10th February. Peter was surrounded by family and died peacefully in his sleep.
Peter’s funeral will be a Requiem Mass at St Edmund’s Sedgefield, on Thursday 6th March at 11.00am, which all are warmly welcome to attend.
Just over a month ago, knowing that he was terminally ill, Peter wrote some words explaining his situation. In his letter to the congregations of the Upper Skerne Team Parish, he wrote:
"Finally, this announcement is being made at a Service of the Eucharist ... It’s important to remember that such a service is one of thanksgiving and celebration. Despite what I have shared with you, this still applies; there is still much to thank God for, and much to celebrate - both in all of our private lives and in the life of the Church. So please be encouraged to do so. In the words of St Paul:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord".
Born in 1958, Peter initially trained as a teacher, and taught for some 25 years in both the UK and Zimbabwe. Then, following going through the selection process for ordination in the Church of England, he trained at Cranmer Hall 2005-2007.
Ordained in 2007, Peter served his curacy at St Gabriel’s Bishopwearmouth, before becoming the Managing Chaplain at HMP/YOI Low Newton 2011-2016. Sadly, he then had to take early retirement on health grounds.
However, by 2018 his health had rallied sufficiently for him to become self-supporting Assistant Priest at Shildon, taking on the same role in the Parish of Upper Skerne from 2020.
It was only very recently that Peter was diagnosed with cancer. The way he and his wife, Julie, responded to this was humbling and a real witness to the reality of the peace which the world cannot give.
Our prayers are with Julie and their adult children.
May Peter rest in peace and rise in glory.
Chris Knights
Chaplain to the Bishop of Durham