Perry F. Rockwood, radio pastor and founder of Peoples Gospel Hour, dead at 90
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Published Monday March 10th, 2008
HALIFAX - Perry F. Rockwood, a pastor whose weekly radio sermon, the Peoples Gospel Hour, has been heard around the world has died in Halifax at the age of 90.
Rockwood, who was born in New Glasgow, N.S., died Friday in hospital after a brief illness, about two weeks shy of his 91st birthday.
Ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1943, Rockwood suffered a bitter break from the church a few years later after charging the faith's leaders with apostasy during a four-sermon series.
The split made front-page news across Canada.
The fundamentalist preacher soon founded a radio program called the Peoples Gospel Hour, which first aired Sept. 5, 1947, on CKCL Radio based in Truro, N.S.
Aside from that program, which airs Sundays, Rockwood's project has grown to include Monday through Friday radio broadcasts and the publication of religious booklets.
His radio programs have been heard on stations in Canada, the United States and throughout the world, including Africa, Asia and Europe.
Rockwood also founded and served as the pastor of the Missionary Bible Church in Halifax.
During the Pope's visit to the region in 1984, Rockwood joined some 50 other people in a small parking lot behind the church to speak out against the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church and the sacraments.
Rockwood was to be buried Tuesday in Halifax following a funeral service.
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