Popular vicar killed by cancer at 79

A popular vicar who founded a Wolverhampton Pentecostal church has died from cancer aged 79.

Up to 400 people were expected to attend the funeral of Reverend Frederick James Turley which was taking place today.

Rev Turley, of Sandy Lane, Bushbury, started up the New Life Fellowship Pentecostal church in Bilston in the early 1960s.

Before that the pastor had spent three years doing clerical work for the RAF during the Second World War.

During his career with the church, which spanned more than three decades, Rev Turley travelled across the country as a preacher.

He worked at churches in Shrewsbury, Bournemouth, London, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow before settling in Bilston.

Rev Turley was well-known within the church community and held the post of general secretary of the United Pentecostal Church for almost 40 years.

He retired from the church in 1989 but retained his position as general secretary.

Rev Turley died on May 27, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer of the colon, for which he had been receiving treatment.

His son David has travelled from America to be at the funeral, which was being held at Darlington Street Methodist Church at 1pm followed by a cremation at Bushbury Cremation's West Chapel.

David, aged 56, said his father was a true gentleman. "He lived a regimented life and was well-known around the neighbourhood," he said.

"He was a Godly man and a true English gentleman.

"He was prim and proper but he touched the lives of others.

"He had the ability to touch both the young and the old and his influence among other ministers was very profound."

Rev Turley wrote two books, So Great Salvation and The Gifts of the Spirit.

He is also survived by his wife Jane Turley, known as Jean, aged 79, and his grandchildren Natassja, aged 29, and 24-year-old Paul, who live in California.