Perry F. Rockwood

Perry F. Rockwood
Rockwood announcing his resignation from the Presbyterian Church in 1947
Born(1917-03-23)March 23, 1917
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedMarch 7, 2008(2008-03-07) (aged 90)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Education
Known forPeople's Gospel Hour radio broadcast
Spouse
Ena Mae Coulstan
​
(m. 1942)​
Ordained1943
Writings
  • The Gospel Standard (monthly)
  • The Coming Antichrist
  • Is Jesus Christ really coming again?
  • The Power of the Blood
  • After death what?
  • Is the KJV God's Word for Today?
  • Coming events : a survey of last-day events
  • How to be saved and know it
Congregations served
  • St. James Presbyterian Church, Truro, Nova Scotia (1943–1947)
  • People's Church, Truro
  • Missionary Bible Church, Halifax (1978–2008)

Perry Francis Rockwood (March 23, 1917 – March 7, 2008) was a Canadian fundamentalist Christian minister and radio broadcaster, who founded the weekly People's Gospel Hour program in 1947 on a station in Truro, Nova Scotia.[1] His broadcast eventually reached a worldwide audience.[2] Rockwood also started publication of a monthly magazine, The Gospel Standard, and wrote numerous books, distributed from his organization's headquarters in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[3]

Rockwood was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1943, but subsequently criticized the denomination over doctrinal issues in a series of sermons preached in November 1946 at the Truro church where he was pastor.[4][5] As a result, he was charged by Presbyterian officials in January 1947 with "divisive action".[4][6] Rockwood's ensuing church trial resulted in front-page news stories in Canada, marked by bitter invective and his subsequent resignation when he refused demands to recant.[2] He then formed an independent church and began his radio ministry, which continues to the present day: the People's Gospel Hour broadcast now consists of newly recorded music and spoken segments by staff, accompanied by reruns of archived sermons preached by Rockwood during his lifetime.[3]

  1. ^ Dollar, George W. (1973). A History of Fundamentalism in America. Bob Jones University Press. p. 280. OCLC 754956.
  2. ^ a b "Gospel Hour pastor Rockwood dies". Toronto Star. March 10, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "What Is The Peoples Gospel Hour?". Halifax, Nova Scotia: People's Gospel Hour. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TIME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Street, Harold B. (1952). Precious Promises Proven. New York: Sudan Interior Mission. pp. 13 and 17. OCLC 34681369.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ottawa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).