REV CLINTON EARLE HOFFENDEN — Well done thou good and faithful servant
The following is part of the eulogy delivered at the service of thanksgiving for the late Rev Clinton Hoffenden.
Our Lord in His wise providence decided that on January 9, 1932 He would bless this earth with a son. He chose Evelyn Bent and Jasper Hoffenden to be the parents of this child. They called him Clinton Earl Hoffenden.
Clinton grew up in Woodlands District, Manchester, in extremely humble surroundings.
Clinton, “Daddy”, “Uncle Clinton”, “Grandpa Hoffenden”, “Pastor Hoffenden”, “Sir”, Brother Clinton, Superintendent Hoffenden, Rev Hoffenden, Superintendent Emeritus was a man of unique wisdom, insight and vision. Many wondered where he came from, for he didn’t attend the more formal educational institutions, but there was no doubt that what he got and gave was far beyond formal educational institutions.
For many years Clinton worked at an approved school for delinquent boys run by the Presbyterian Church in Woodlands. Later he worked at Alcan alumina processing plant in Kirkvine, Manchester. He also taught electrical and mechanical works, plumbing, auto mechanics auto bodywork, farming, sewing, ironing, washing, landscaping, building designing and building construction – a jack of all trades.
As a young man growing up, Clinton learned to love the Lord and the Church of the Firstborn through his late mother and his uncle Rev Dr Frank Solomon Bent.
Rev Hoffenden got baptised at the Nazareth Gospel Hall in Cross Keys, Manchester.
He was the first ordained deacon in the Church of the Firstborn.
He was the first general secretary of the Church of the Firstborn. He was the second superintendent to be elected after the passing of the founder Rev Dr Frank Solomon Bent.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, our Lord in His wise providence decided that His gift to us, Clinton Earl Hoffenden, had finished his course here on earth. He’s gone but will never be forgotten. No man is indispensable, but some are irreplaceable.
Forever he will be missed and remembered by his wife Deon; his biological sons Gary, Richard and Howard; daughters-in-law Denise and Carla; his biological grandchildren Nicholas and Abigail; other sons and daughters; other grandchildren; one brother-in-law; nieces, nieces-in law, nephews, nephews-in law;
and his Firstborn family, the wider church community, friends and associates
Clinton Earl Hoffenden, we salute you! Well done thou good and faithful servant.
