Peter Trumper was born in Chatham, Kent, in 1934, but lived most of his life in Wales. His father was second-in-charge of the home guard for Wales during World War Two. At school, he was taught by George Thomas (later Speaker of the House of Commons).
He gained a choral scholarship and continued during his teens with choral singing and also some radio broadcasting. He developed as an actor and eventually entered Cardiff Castle of Music and Drama. By this time, he was disaffected with Christianity.
Peter was due to play the part of Jesus in a college play, but a fellow student organised a boycott, leading to the play being shelved. This led Peter to rage, ‘Who is this Jesus?’, but also to search the Scriptures. He came to faith shortly after, under the ministry of Rev. J. Sidlow Baxter.
Peter was called to gospel ministry and trained at Aberystwyth Theological College in 1959. In 1961 he married Margaret and they relocated to Pembrokeshire, where they remained for 20 years. They were to have four children.
Peter ministered in the Presbyterian Church in Wales, before seceding and founding Bethany Free (now Evangelical) Church, near Haverfordwest. He was, in addition, a Wycliffe Preacher with the Protestant Truth Society until 1985.
In 1982 he became minister of Holywell Evangelical Church and a year later was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This brought early retirement at the end of 1986. On 1 January 1987, he established the Vocal Protestants’ International Fellowship (VPIF), which continued until 2004.
Dr Trumper found his greatest fulfilment not in singing, acting or even preaching, but in his Saviour. He chose for his funeral the words, ‘Christ is all’ (Colossians 3:11).
Full obituary on www.fromhisfullness.com/peter-trumper
