Rev Peter Southcombe

Peter was born in 1955 in Ealing and lived there until the age of 16 when his parents moved to Sidmouth. Following his school years, Peter studied agriculture and then worked as an agricultural adviser.

In 1984 Peter felt a call to the ministry and moved to Cambridge to study. He was ordained in Dartmouth in 1988 and served both there and in Brixham until 1994.

From there he and the family moved to Rochester where he ministered at The Vines Church.

In 2011 Peter and the family moved to Southbourne and he became minister of Immanuel Church Southbourne. During his time in Southbourne, Peter became very involved with local community projects as it was very important to him that the local church should reach out into the community. He helped to organise events on the green at Christmas and was instrumental in arranging a local farmer to bring animals, which combined his love of farming with his ministry. Peter would always be seen at Christmas, dressed as a shepherd, in the pen with the sheep. He also arranged to put a Nativity Shed on the Green each year so that the message of Christmas was displayed.

Throughout Peter’s ministry he was passionate about sharing God’s love with the community and reaching out in practical ways.

He retired in 2022 and sadly passed away in 2023 from cancer.

Peter married Ruth in 1980 and they had 43 happy years together. He leaves 4 children and 8 grandchildren.