Our tribute to Derek Copley

It is with great sadness that we at Moorlands College have heard of the death of our former Principal, Dr Derek Copley.

Derek impacted the lives of so many people. We’d like to use this space to celebrate Derek’s life and to reflect on how Christ worked through him and used his gifts at Moorlands College.

Here are some of our reflections and cherished memories of Derek:

Tribute from David Hilborn, Principal of Moorlands College (2019 – present)

“Derek led Moorlands with great dedication and faithfulness between 1970 and 1997. In that long and distinguished tenure he established the College on its present site near Christchurch in Dorset, leading the growth of the student and staff community, developing the campus, giving Moorlands a more international profile, and gaining university-level validation for its academic programmes.

I was privileged to get to know Derek personally when I worked as Head of Theology for the Evangelical Alliance UK in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and when Derek was a leading figure in the promotion of European and worldwide Evangelical unity.

When I was appointed Principal of Moorlands College in 2019, it was wonderful to invite Derek back to the College to film an interview about his time here – a recording that will feature in a new documentary about the history of the College to be released this year. (The below photograph was taken during the interview.)

Derek lit up on camera when recalling the many blessings of working here, but we also recognise his life and service as a faithful disciple and leader in many other contexts before he joined the College, and in the years following his Principalship. Our prayers are with his wife Chris and his family at this time of mourning his loss, but we also celebrate a faithful servant now blessed to enter God’s glorious presence.”

Tribute from Steve Brady, College President and Former Principal (1999-2018)

“Derek led Moorlands with great dedication and faithfulness between 1970 and 1997. In that long and distinguished tenure he established the College on its present site near Christchurch in Dorset, leading the growth of the student and staff community, developing the campus, giving Moorlands a more international profile, and gaining university-level validation for its academic programmes. I was privileged to get to know Derek personally when I worked as Head of Theology for the Evangelical Alliance UK in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and when Derek was a leading figure in the promotion of European and worldwide Evangelical unity. When I was appointed Principal of Moorlands College in 2019, it was wonderful to invite Derek back to the College to film an interview about his time here – a recording that will feature in a new documentary about the history of the College to be released this year. (The below photograph was taken during the interview.) Derek lit up on camera when recalling the many blessings of working here, but we also recognise his life and service as a faithful disciple and leader in many other contexts before he joined the College, and in the years following his Principalship. Our prayers are with his wife Chris and his family at this time of mourning his loss, but we also celebrate a faithful servant now blessed to enter God’s glorious presence.”

Tribute from Janice Tuck, college graduate and member of our Board of Trustees

“Many hundreds of Moorlands students in the 1970s, 80s and 90’s (myself among them) fondly remember Derek as “the Prin”. He features in photos of year groups of students, playing volleyball with his tutor group and shaking hands with graduating students. It’s a great sadness to hear of his passing.

Derek will be remembered lovingly as someone who took a personal interest in each student, and someone whose passion to see people reach their full potential in Christ inspired his leadership, teaching and writing.

The strong Moorlands of today is being built on strong foundations and we honour Derek’s part in that and the many years he gave in service of the Lord at Moorlands.”

Online donation page for Derek

If you’d like to contribute to an online donation page in memory of Derek, you can do so here. The gifts will be shared between Oakhaven Hospice (Lymington) and Hythe URC Outreach Fund who support overseas mission and local evangelism.