Retired URC minister, Patrick Lidgett, was a loved member of St Andrew’s which he served as an Elder and Church Treasurer for 15 years until his death on 24th November 2024. He was locally renowned for travelling everywhere in his black taxi cab and his hands on involvement at Crich Tramway Museum and the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Wirksworth. He learnt to drive trams in his 50s and diesel railway engines in retirement and was also a driving instructor at the railway. For many years he played cricket with a local pub team. Friends and colleagues have spoken warmly of his encouragement, humour and genuine interest in everyone he met.

Patrick was born in London and lived in Sidcup, Kent, from the age of 11 where he became a member of the Congregational Church. He studied engineering at Imperial College London but did not take his degree. In 1962 he candidated for the ministry, trained at New College London for 4 years, obtained his BD degree and was ordained as a minister in 1967. He met his wife Helen who was also studying at the University of London and they married in 1966. His first church was at Bedworth in Warwickshire. After three years he moved to Liverpool where he served a group of churches which all became part of the United Reformed Church in 1972. In Liverpool he encouraged the churches to leave behind the city’s ingrained Protestant/Catholic divide and embrace an ecumenical future. He also served as a voluntary British Sailors Society Chaplain. In 1979 he moved back to London to be minister of Streatham High Road United Reformed Church. Here he challenged the church to accept into their membership and eventually leadership increasing numbers of the Ghanaian and Caribbean communities settled in the area who brought vibrant life into the church. He oversaw a major redevelopment of the church premises to enable it to meet the needs of the church better and open up to the local community.

After 20 years of inner city ministry with all its challenges, he moved in 1989 to a quieter pastorate at Baldock URC in Hertfordshire and eventually to Ashbourne URC in Derbyshire until his retirement in 2003. In retirement he continued to serve local churches as an interim moderator and preacher for another 10 or so years.

He is much missed by Helen, daughters Rachel and Valerie, four grandchildren and of course many friends at St Andrew’s and all the groups he was involved in. In his address at Patrick’s Thanksgiving Service, Revd Geoffrey Clarke, Synod Moderator, reminded us all that “the Christmas season reveals that the emptiness of absence is eclipsed by the promise of presence”.  After a lifetime of serving his Lord, Patrick is now fully in God’s presence.