Rev. John Whitehorn (懷約翰牧師) (born in Kuala Lumpur 7 October 1925) went home to the Lord peacefully in his sleep early morning of Thursday, 10th March 2022 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, England U.K. The Whitehorn family shared that following a fall at home, John was well cared for in hospital for two and a half weeks but sadly succumbed to a chest infection which had developed into pneumonia.

Following a private funeral service at the Crematorium for the family only (morning) a public thanksgiving and memorial service for the life and witness of Rev. John Whitehorn (懷約翰牧師) will take place 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 5th April 2022 at Downing Place United Reformed Church (former congregations of St. Columba and Emmanuel). Refreshments will be served in the Gibson hall after the service and all are welcome to stay and meet with the family.

In accordance with John Whitehorn’s request there will be no flowers. Any donations in memory of John should be made to the Bible Society – thank you.

Messages and condolences to the Whitehorn family can be sent to:

Mr. David Whitehorn <djwhitehorn@gmail.com >

Mrs. Elizabeth Whitehorn, 5 Fenners Lawn, Cambridge CB1 2EH England U.K.

Church Address: Downing Place URC, 4, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3EL Enlgand U.K.

please see website for directions: https://downingplaceurc.org/about/where-we-are/

A retired minister of the United Reformed Church (URC), (former English Presbyterian Mission) Rev. John Whitehorn served as a missionary partner with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan during the years 1951 – 1970 and he served PCT in the following areas of ministry: Paiwan Bible Translation (Pingtung); Secretary for Ethnic Ministry work PCT GA office (Taipei); Acting Principal Yushan Theological Seminary (Hualien). During the years in Taiwan his wife, Dr. Elizabeth (Haslam) Whitehorn served as medical doctor at the Norwegian Alliance Mission Hospital in Pingtung and the Mennonite Hospital in Hualien.

After returning to England (1970) Rev. Whitehorn maintained his close ties with Taiwan and continued working on Paiwan Bible translation (1970-1973) and (1983-1993) and visited Taiwan couple times in those ensuing years. It was with great joy when in 1973 the Paiwan New Testament was published and 1993 Paiwan Shorter Bible published. Other publications John Whitehorn contributed to Raleigh Ferell’s Paiwan Dictionary (1982). With co-editor Robert Early published One Hundred Paiwan Texts in 2003 Pacific Linguistics, Australia. Back in England John after teaching for short time, served the “Time for God” scheme.

Sadly John was preceded in death by his wife Dr. Elizabeth (Haslam) Whitehorn (1975) and their son Stephen Whitehorn at the young age of 24 (1985). After several years as a “single parent” in 2002 John married Elizabeth Bruce with whom he shared happy and fulfilling retirement years.

We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Bruce) Whitehorn, and John’s children David (Margie), Helen (Colin Christy), Richard (Rachel) and all his nine grandchildren.

by Carys Humphreys, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)