WCC news: Memorial service celebrates life, witness, ministry of Rev. Dr Peter Cruchley

A memorial service on 9 September at the St Hippolyte Roman Catholic Church in Geneva celebrated the life, witness, and ministry of Rev. Dr Peter Cruchley (12 June 1966 to 15 August 2025).  Photo. Ivars Kupcis/WCC 9 September 2025 The service began as the family lit a memorial candle.  Memories, consolation, and gratitude poured forth from those gathered.  World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay gave thanks for Cruchley’s life on earth.  “On behalf of the entire WCC fellowship, we  express our sympathies and condolences,” he said. “We pray God’s strength and blessings upon you during this time. We would like you to know that your loss is our loss, that your pain is our pain, and together we find strength in God and in one another.” Cruchley was no ordinary person, added Pillay. “In fact, he was one of a kind: unique, friendly, humorous, and kind,” said Pillay. “What stood out was his courage to say what he believed, and thought, and to live his life the way he chose to live.” Rev Dr Winelle Kirton-Roberts, pastor of the Geneva Moravian Fellowship, offered a sermon.  “We find ourselves confronting uncertainties and fears, struggling to find a meaningful response,” she said. “We find ourselves here today in this unexpected season, asking ourselves the question, how do I make sense of this?” Kirton-Roberts had journeyed with the Cruchley family for the past few months. “It gives me a sense of comfort to stand here and to affirm that Peter kept the faith,” she said. “He kept the mystery, the deep truths of the faith. He kept the faith by practicing the faith.” WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC Dr Masiiwa Gunda, WCC programme executive for programmatic responses on overcoming racism, spoke of Cruchley’s openness and warm professional disposition. “So connecting with Peter professionally was to be expected the moment we met,” said Gunda. “Yet the same encounter in London also awakened in Peter and me a deeply personal connection that went beyond the call of duty.” Gunda found a big brother. “And he willingly took me in as a young brother, even though I'm not sure how much experience he had of being a big brother!” said Gunda. Dr Andrej Jeftić, director of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order, knew Cruchley as one whose presence would quickly fill a room. “He loved to engage with people, and always ensured that everyone was addressed and attended to,” said Jeftić. “He loved outings and nature, appreciated good food, and was himself a great cook.” Jeftić spoke of Cruchley’s desire for life and being a flower through the cracks of life. “In our modes of thinking, in our usual approaches to work, in the way we conceptualize, communicate our faith, in how we offer our Christian witness, and in the structures within which we operate—opening up space, breaking the concrete,” Jeftić said.  The WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism shared a tribute to Cruchley, who served as director of the commission. Part of the tribute reads: “A life lived in colour, with boldness and integrity as a faithful disciple and follower of Jesus. His sharp agile mind,  His openness, vulnerability, humour and care were gifts to all he met…” Lena Cruchley, Peter Cruchley’s wife. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC Lena Cruchley, Peter Cruchley’s wife, said she greatly admired him in countless ways. “His work was a true calling, which he pursued with such conviction,” she said. “He was radical, yet gentle and open.” He did not like conflict, Lena Cruchley reflected. “Yet, he persevered in the name of justice,” she said. “How he could be and do all this, but not take himself too seriously, even remain genuinely humble, amazed me.” She also spoke of her late husband’s extraordinary, brilliant, sharp mind. “And such a way with words,” she said. “I regularly proofread his articles and presentations, and they just as regularly moved me to tears.” Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC Photo gallery WCC mourns loss of Rev. Dr Peter Cruchley, who spoke truth with courage (WCC obituary, 16 August 2025) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland