Generous gift in Will received

St Paul’s College is the recent beneficiary of the distribution of assets in accordance with the Will of Rev’d Peter Blackburn who died in 2018. Peter’s estate was across multiple jurisdictions which led to additional time to complete probate and property sales.

Rev’d Peter James Whittaker Blackburn, in College 1968-69, was born on 9 January 1947 and lived in Maroubra and Carringbah as a child. In 1965 he came to Sydney University from Woolooware High School to study for a Bachelor of Arts. At that time Peter found he enjoyed participation in services at Christ Church St Lawrence and for a year he was President of the Sydney University Anglican Society. He moved in to Paul’s for his honours year and in 1969 commenced a Law degree. He was a Chapel Warden, member of Mummers and according to his uni friend Robert Tunbridge was a fabulous entertainer in his room at Paul’s and made his mark on those around him.

He left Paul’s to study Theology at Leeds University in the UK returning to Australia for the occasional holiday throughout his life. He was ordained Deacon in 1972 at Bury St Edmunds and Priest in 1973. He was Curate at St John the Baptist and St Edmund’s churches in Felixstowe from 1972 to 1976. His ministry flourished with appointments in Bournemouth and in 1979 he became Rector of Burythorpe, Acklam and Leavening with Weston in Yorkshire.

A successful parish priest, he accepted the appointment of Vicar of Christ Church Naples in 1985 which included chaplaincy to NATO Forces.  In 1991 he went on to Portugal where he was stationed in the Algarve and would celebrate the Eucharist in various Catholic churches. He also acted as locum each year for two months in Genoa.

Due to increasing health problems he returned to England in 1997 then from 2009 until his death on 14 January 2018 he served as an honorary curate at Hampstead.

We are indebted to the Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead in London who kindly provided copies of the eulogies given at Peter’s memorial service on 21 February 2018. These can be found by CLICKING HERE.

During the difficulties of the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2021 the College community will greatly benefit from Peter’s legacy which was given for general College operations. We are very grateful that Peter thought to include his old college in his Will.

For information about planned giving please see: https://www.stpauls.edu.au/giftinyourwill/

“Peter was a good listener, a wise counsellor, and a gentle consoler.”