Linebrook Church - An Independent Congregational Church

Our Tributes to John Pressey

Below is a collection of tributes to the late John Pressey, one of our founding pastors and a wonderful man of God. If you would like to submit a tribute, please contact us.

John Pressey was a pastor’s pastor. He never retired from the ministry. Only hours before his death in his 90th year, he held a meeting with several seminarians in his home and discussed with them a number of his reflections on ministry and service to Christ. He died praying for Linebrook Church, his last parish, and its people, and his family.

He had remarkable discernment about people and churches. At one church where he and I served together for ten years, he predicted a major problem and how it would play out, two years before it even became apparent to the rest of us. Had we only followed his advice at that time, our lives would have been a lot easier! He had a sense of people’s needs, and how to meet them. In several churches he started special ministries that provided real help for people’s hurts. In one church he served, he began a support group for people with HIV/AIDS long before the disease was even well understood. People in the community said that no one would come to such a group because no one in the vicinity was affected. In fact, many who had been secretly dealing the disease came, and John and the group ministered to them at a time when no one else had even thought to do so.

Every person was important to him. When regulars were missing from church, he noticed and did his best to find out where they were and if they were okay. To newcomers he was a welcoming figure, tall and well-dressed, eager to get to know them, delighted to have them a part of the congregation if only for that Sunday, and hopeful and prayerful that they might return to have their needs met by the Savior who understands all about human need. When he was confined to a wheelchair in his final months, he cheerfully greeted from it, and was planning at the time of his death to advertise in the media the fact that he would be preaching soon from a wheelchair as a way of encouraging the handicapped to come to church. He loved the deaf, and was thrilled that Linebrook Church was able to develop a ministry to the deaf with interpreting at both worship services and Sunday School. He greatly appreciated and was enormously proud of everyone who served in the church, and regularly kept in touch with officers and workers to see how they were doing and to thank them for their efforts for the Lord. He tirelessly promoted missions and support for missionaries, with whom he developed personal, encouraging relationships.

He understood how important orderly, dignified, joyous, God-centered worship was. He insisted on high quality in music and solid biblical preaching in worship services, and poured great energy into composing not only his memorable sermons, but also his pastoral prayers and benedictions. He paid attention to details such as flowers, candles, altar cloths, lighting, bulletins, hymnal selections, newspaper advertising, and so forth, because he knew that a worship service was made up not only of great acts of worship but of small indications of devotion to God as well. He made sure that musical instruments used to accompany congregational singing and special music were of high quality and that the musicians who used them to God’s glory were valued and given freedom to excel.

He was always clear in his speech, and was unafraid to speak his mind. He knew what he wanted, which was what needed to be done. He always had a list for me of things that needed discussing or doing – we never had our weekly lunch together without referring to that list. He had great faith at what God could do. Shortly after we founded Linebrook Church, property next door to the church became available, but at a very high price for a new congregation. John had faith that God would allow us to buy the property. His wide influence helped it happen: when I went to see a bank vice president to ask about the possibility of a mortgage to buy the property, his first words to me were, “Is John Pressey with you?” John’s reputation and integrity preceded my visit, and opened the door to the loan.

John Pressey started his first pastorate at Sherman Station, Maine over sixty years ago – and pastored ever since in both Maine and Massachusetts. Several times he “retired,” only to be called out of retirement to serve another church. Surely thousands in heaven have welcomed him there because of the influence he had on their lives during his own long life of earth.

Douglas Stuart
Senior Pastor

Pastor John Pressey was and is a very important part of my Christian faith. It’s been a trickle-down effect. I am married to one of his grandsons. I came into the family at a tumultuous time in my life. I was not raised with religion and was your everyday sinner. I had no idea what kind of a religious family I was getting myself into. I started to attend the Boxford church (then Linebrook) and began to learn and love God and John Pressey. I had a terrible tragedy in my life and my husband’s parents gave me my first cross necklace. They said we think you are ready for this now. My new found faith is the only thing that has carried me through several years of very trying times. John Pressey married me and welcomed me into his heart and his family’s lives with open arms. I have never known a more generous and loving family. They owe it all to their father and mother and will gladly tell you this. My own parents have come back to Jesus and so goes the trickling. John Pressey was a humble man that always reminded all of us how much he loved us and how much he loved his church. You never left his house without the reminder of what time church was. I look forward to seeing him again one day as do my sons who miss his love. God Bless John Pressey and God Bless his Church.

Sincerely,
Laura Kilgour

John Hollis Pressey, my father, my friend. He will be missed as long as I live. So many special memories fill my heart. He was a man I was very proud of. A tribute to him is hard to put in a few paragraphs.

I never wrote a tribute before, and I am not quite sure how to. I am going to write some things about my dad you may or may not know. I hope some things ring a bell with you, and you can say “I remember that about him”. Some things you may say “I never knew that”. Either way this is a brief synopsis of some important things in my father’s life I would like to share:

First, I am thankful to my mother and father that they brought me up in a Christian home. They both made it clear that God, church and family were the most important things in life. For that I am grateful.

I remember that Dad loved working with youth. For years he took a week in the summer to be dean at Rolling Ridge or Asbury Grove. I was fortunate to attend both camps when he was there. I have fond memories at Rolling Ridge of him gathering all the campers on the winding staircase at the end of the day to sing. He directed the campers to do Jesus Christ Super Star in the Tabernacle at Asbury Grove. He loved music, and what a great way for the youth to learn about God.

Music was important to him. He loved playing the organ and piano. The hymnal seemed to be his favorite to play. He did have his silly side to music. He often sang songs that would make us laugh. The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren probably have heard Poor Little Fly on The Wall, A Bird in a Gilded Cage, and a Peanut Sat Upon A Track (to name a few) more than once. He used music for comfort, ministry, and entertainment.

He loved to cook. I remember many a church dinner you would find him in the kitchen cooking up a storm. I remember him canning his famous Reverends Relish, and Pastors Piccalilli. Up until June he was still cooking. Even at 89 he would try new recipes. Often a doggie bag went home with those who ate with him. Regularly brownies were requested by his great grandson Johnny, and Buppa was proud to make them for him. He was a great cook. Some of his favorite recipes have been passed down already from generation to generation.

Dad loved to travel. In the 70’s he started being a Tour Director. He made several trips to Europe and Hawaii. A few times he was Chaplin on some cruise ships. I traveled with him one year to The British Isles. I saw first hand what a wonderful time he had traveling. Often many that joined him on the tours were friends, and he made many friends in his travels. I am happy to say I now have his travel journal from the trip I made with him over 35 years ago.

He had a calling to the ministry after he was married with three children! He worked a few jobs, and studied, while trying to raise a family. We moved several times from one church to another. Each community we had made friends and it was hard to leave. I believe from each church he had served he still had contact with a few friends. Dad retired for a short time before he discovered that he could not retire. He tried a few times, but God kept calling him to more ministries. I believe he had some guardian angels along the way. I remember my mother telling me that my dad was in Boston looking under some bridge for a homeless aide’s victim that he was ministering to! He was in his 70’s when he started this ministry. Two years ago he and Doug Stuart founded Linebrook Church. He was so thrilled to be a part of this. He spoke proudly of that church. Some of his very last words were praying for that church.

Dad had many friends. He had friends of all ages, some for a short time and some he had been friends with since childhood. He valued his friendships. His heart was big with lots of room for love of another friend. Some of his friends became like family. How wonderful it is to be a part of a man’s life that could love so much and was so loved by many.

His computer became a great tool for him. It was a way to research, to communicate with loved ones near and far, and to entertain. (It did add moments of frustration too) He was in his late 70’s when he got his first computer. If you were on his e-mail list you must miss all the e-mails you used to delete! I know I do.

Family was one of his top priorities. It’s hard to believe he could love us all as he did. He had 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 2 on the way at the time of his death. He was thrilled each and every time he knew a baby was coming. He was so proud of each and every one. To hear him pray for his family the last hours of his life on Earth was very moving. He missed my mother very much, and it does bring joy to know they are together with their maker.

He loved children. Often at the family gatherings you would find him on the floor amongst all the kids. He loved playing with what ever toys they were interested in, He would do Trot Trot to Boston as long as his legs held out, and Doo Doodle Doo the children would be lifted into the air and zoom down into the basement, they had to watch out not to be caught in a Buppa Trap only to get out if they named the Uncle he was thinking of. Singing to the children was one of his favorites. He always was young at heart. Since I can remember the grandchildren loved to tease him by taking his pen out of his pocket. I believe some grandchildren in their 30’s still played this game with Big Bup.

Dad always looked forward to the theater. Every year he would tell me he got season tickets. He liked to talk about what was coming up and what he had seen. We would talk about who he was going with. I am grateful that he got to go to the theater this season. Thanks to his dear friend Bob he went in July, oxygen tank and all. He laughed when he told of that story.

Another wonderful gift Dad had was his sense of humor. It shinned through until the end. He could make us laugh until we would cry.

Gardening is a love of mine that I inherited from both my parents. They both loved to garden. My dad in the spring gardened from his wheel chair! He loved to water and nurtured those plants. They went from little sprigs to large cascading plants. He was so proud of his efforts. I will be reminded of his love of gardening as I garden every year.

All of the above is just a part of who my father was. When I think of all the things he did I wonder how he found the time for them all? I know he also made many phone calls during the week to check on friends and family. The day before the Lord took Dad home he had a little luncheon meeting with 3 seminary students. He was so proud of them, and was happy that I could meet them that day.

My many memories will remind me of that wonderful man I was fortunate enough to call Dad. I am so thankful that I know he is with the Lord and that someday I will see him again.

Jaye Hollace Viggiano

Given to John Pressey by his beloved friend (since 1949) Evan Palmer last Christmas…a poem

To A Dear Friend

I met you in the early spring
    So many years ago
When life was slow and easy
    No rushing to and fro.
You called me friend with voice so warm
    I knew right from the start
Our bond of friendship had begun
    That would never depart.
So many hopes and dreams we've shared.
    Some disappointments too.
I always knew that come what may
    I could count on you.
Though miles may separate our paths,
    We're never far apart.
For you, dear friend, will always be
    special in my heart.

Author: Kay Hoffman

My dad and “Bud” met in Sherman Station Maine where my father had his first church. They did become best of friends. Dad made many friends in every place we lived, because he lived this poem and was a true friend to many. None more than Evan.

Even though one lived in Massachusets and the other in California they talked and wrote to each other every week, dreaming, sharing their hopes, fears and most of all their love for God.

They spoke the day my dad died and said “goodbye, my dear friend” but knew they would be together again some day rejoicing and singing God’s praise… forever friends.

I miss MY dear friend, MY loving dad. He and my mom taught me this kind of friendship, love and most of all to rejoice and praise God, through tears and laughter.

Rachel Kilgour

What I enjoyed most about the time I spent with Pastor Pressey was witnessing his character. The cultivation of our character is the most important work God has given us, and it testifies to who we are in relation to Him.

I think one of the things I love most is watching the development of godly character in others: from the little child who is just starting to grasp what hope in Jesus really means, to young men and women making life-charting commitments based on faith, to those in the senior category, who though not fully sanctified, are a model and a testament to what it means to live and have lived as servants of our Lord Jesus. Each stage of Christian maturity is a beautiful work of God; but, I think, the most beautiful one is that of the weathered believer, who has persevered through the good and bad of this life: who has kept the faith and run to obtain the prize. Among all of us, such people shine most bright with the image of God.

In Pastor Pressey I saw this greatly evidenced. I learned and was convicted much by witnessing his God-centered perspective on all matters of life, his selfless love for his family and his flock, his deeply genuine desire for the Gospel to be known by the lost, and his firm commitment to be obedient to God’s Word. One particular part of his character that struck me was the fact that, with him, there was no distinction between pastor and friend: he was both at the same time. Most pastors, it seems to me, are either more pastor than friend or more friend than pastor. In a wonderful way, and without one doing damage to the other, John Pressey was both these qualities in one. These and many other godly attributes I saw in him; and I, along with many others I’m sure, will more diligently aspire to such a maturity because of his example.

We are blessed to have had a pastor of such character. Through it he reflected much of the great light of the Gospel message. What a joy it is to know that it will not be too long and we will be with him where holiness and perfection abound. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

Brooks Linde

John came into our hearts when he joined the staff of First Church, Boxford. His wife Marge, interested in Benevolent Society, was welcomed as a sweet, productive member. As John drove her to the meetings he too was invited to sit in on the luncheons and remained an integral part of the group after Marge’s death. He too, now is gone from our midst, is sorely missed… (especially for his Indian banter with Arlene Parkhurst.) A dear Christian man was he.

Ladies Benevolent Society of First Church Boxford

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Recently I had a dream of my dad. I dreamt that my dad had just died. I remember crying and feeling my body going numb. Suddenly, I woke up and realized it was not a dream but true. I was sobbing and feeling empty inside, almost emotionless. Once I sat up in my bed, I began to reflect on my dream. I realized the sadness and loss is how much I missed him and the life he served. This was my “daddy”, the man I looked up to and loved with all my heart who has now gone to a better place and left his little girl behind.

My parents were both Christians who lived their faith and belief in God. My mother always knew when someone needed a hug, a word of encouragement, or even a card to let them know she was thinking of them. My father, through his ministry, served not only his parishioners, but also started several ministries outside of the church including Keenagers and the Aids Support team where he did daily care for aids victims who could not care for themselves. My father was always available to encourage people in need and would do whatever he could to resolve situations they were in. The one thing that touched my heart was my dad providing a worship service in nursing homes for people who could not attend church. My father and my mother always showed us love and support, but, most of all, they taught and showed us how to love God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What better gift could a parent give to their child?

I thank the Lord for giving me the privilege to be with my dad throughout the end of his life. First, he was sad he would be leaving his family on earth, because he knew in his heart we would miss him. My brother, sisters and I told my father not to worry, as one day we would be reunited as a family. We were allowing him to prepare our new home in Heaven. My father, as stubborn as he was, kept telling us that he wasn’t ready to die due to the fact we needed him.

How blessed that we were able to share our love for our parents and our love for God with him. We were able to say that God gave us the gift of wonderful parents.

Thursday he was planning for Sunday Service with the students at the church at lunchtime. Then, in my heart, it seems like yesterday, that afternoon he told us he was ready and looking forward to joining God in His Kingdom. He got progressively worse as the hours passed. He called his best friend Bud from childhood to say goodbye. My father told Bud that he loved him and enjoyed the time they had together two weeks prior.

Ray and Judy Taylor were at our side most of the time supporting us. Judy was my mom’s best friend and it was such a privilege to have them involved, praying, and offering us strength. I know my dad was so grateful they were there with us, as well as with him, who loved them dearly.

Our family was blessed to have two of my father’s closest friends, Larry Schell and Michael Williams come and pray with him. He mentored them in the past and was so proud of the ministers they have become. I thank God for blessing my family with these ministers, as they have assisted my children’s weddings, dedications, and now the celebration of my father’s life.

John Stitt, my adopted brother, is a true Christian who puts his heart into his music. John dedicated his beautiful voice during the service to my father. I realized his heart was breaking, as he not only lost a mentor, a friend, but, a father just like us that day.

Ken Fernald, who was a close friend of our family, as well as one of John Stitt’s best friends, was a welcomed singer at my dads funeral too. Unfortunately, he died suddenly about a month after my father did. I often vision my father booking Ken to sing the glorious hymns to our Father in Heaven throughout eternity.

I know my father is not alone at this time, as he is with my mom, family members, friends, and God Almighty.

As my father was taking his last breathes, he prayed with his children for our future lives, as well as people from previous churches, his friends and especially for Linebrook Church, in which he and Doug Stuart planted. He was so proud to work with Doug Stuart. My father was always humbled by the fact that Doug worked so closely beside him, he felt blessed that they were able to start a new church and witness to a population of non believers and others as well. One of my father’s dying wishes was for the church to grow and evangelize to many people.

Our family, his children, grandchildren and even some great grandchildren were fortunate enough to be there to support each other as we provided for his physical needs. We prayed for and with my dad as he was dying. I can honestly say that the presence of God was there as he took his final breath. We could only thank God for taking him HOME.

What a paradox, so happy, yet so sad. The feeling of sadness and loss are temporary. I thank God every day and am assured and joyful that I have the same future because I know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for my sins. We will all be together again.

I miss you daddy,

Debi Pressey Viggiano