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GOODBYE: Mother Jean Reynolds (photo credit: Omar Wallen)

THE CHURCH of God in Christ (COGIC), the UK’s oldest black Pentecostal denominations, is in mourning following the death of one of its pioneers, Mother Jean Reynolds.

She was due to celebrate her 80th birthday later this year.

Mother Reynolds, the daughter of COGIC UK’s first national leader Bishop McLachlan, played a major role within the church. She served as the first National Youth Supervisor, was a pastor’s wife – serving alongside her late husband of 51 years, Superintendent Reynolds, who was Senior Pastor at COGIC Tottenham – and latterly was the Women’s Jurisdictional Supervisor of COGIC UK.

Geoff Folkes, senior pastor of COGIC Tottenham, who knew Mother Reynolds for 50 years, recalled:

“She was my youth president. My first sermon at a COGIC youth convention was due to Mother Reynolds. She pioneered COGIC choir, as well as leading the women’s department in the latter years.

“She loved the church and she just wanted the church to be the best.”

Pastor Clevere Fention, COGIC’s General Secretary, told The Voice's Soul Stirrings section:

“Her contribution to the church has been tremendous.

“She was the daughter of the founder and served as youth director for many years. She was a great encourager to both young and old.”

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