Norman Jones was a humble man who served for God’s glory, not his own. He came to the Christian Reformed Church in his retirement years, having first been ordained in the Calvinistic Methodist Church of Wales and later served in the United Church of Canada. Norman, 93, died Sept. 25.
Born and raised in North Wales, Norman graduated from the University of Wales and, later, the University of Toronto. He was ordained in the Calvinistic Methodist Church of Wales (closely affiliated with the Presbyterian Church) in 1956 and served two congregations in Maesteg, in a coal mining valley in South Wales, then one in Barmouth, a seaside resort town in North Wales.
In 1965, Norman immigrated to Canada where he was received into the United Church of Canada, pastoring congregations in Bayham and London, Ont., before moving in 1970 to St. Paul's United Church in Aylmer, Ont., where he ministered for the next 27 years.
After retiring from St. Paul's in 2003, Norman was ordained in the CRC. For almost three years he served London (Ont.) CRC (now Talbot Street Church) as the pastor of visitation for seniors. He also preached at several southwestern Ontario churches, including Aylmer CRC, his home church.
At his funeral, a pastor colleague who had known Norman for more than 40 years described him as a “beloved pastor to the entire town of Aylmer,” referring to the hundreds of weddings and funerals Norman officiated over the years, often for those who did not have a church connection.
Norman and his wife, Tiena, enjoyed traveling in North America, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Predeceased in 1985 by his wife, Brenice, Norman is survived by Tiena, his wife of 34 years; a daughter, son, and two stepdaughters; 10 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.