The Lord’s servant, our beloved Leader of the Maranatha Community, Dennis Wrigley, completed his final journey, received the call “Well done, good and faithful servant” and went to be with Our Lord this morning (9th November 2015). In recent weeks he had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try to shrink the secondary cancer in his lungs, and up till his final hours he was praising God and ministering to hospital visitors, patients and staff.
Dennis co-founded the Maranatha Community with Fr Michael Buckley in 1981, and over the past 34 years he dedicated his life to leading our community with love, vision and a servant heart. He has been a guiding light to many people and in recent years recorded a series of videos so that the inspiration God has given him will be received by many in years to come. These videos can been seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/dwrigleyministries
We are reminded of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
His funeral was held on Monday 23rd November at The Avenue Methodist Church, Wincham Road, Sale, M33 4PL, followed by a reception at The Life Centre, Washway Road, Sale, M33 4BP.
You can read a full (2 page) tribute to Dennis here, which includes information about his early life and career and the founding of Maranatha.
On Sunday 15th November Linda Stalley was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester about Dennis. Click below to hear this interview.
Maranatha Community (Archive News) 
Dear friends,
You must be so full of sorrow to have been parted from Dennis, what a man of God. I am grieving with you but praising god that he is indeed rejoicing with the Lord in Heaven. Michelle kept me in touch with all the prayer requests, such an incredible faith and love for the Lord, an inspiration to all he met, treasured and loved by everyone. I will never forget his council, friendship and discipleship. What a truly amazing child of God, honouring the lord with every breath till his last. Am keeping you all in my heart and prayers.
I hope this video brings you some comfort I can only Imagine by Mercy Me, I was playing this last night about 1am, I couldn’t sleep and was thinking about Dennis and another dear friend of mine that went to glory recently.
God bless and much love to all of Dennis’s extended in christ and close family
Carol x
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We have received the news that Dennis has gone to glory with great sadness. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all the Community, the leadership team and particularly to Sheila and all the family. We have known Dennis for many years and recently had the great pleasure of inviting him to address two of our North West Celebrate Weekends. His words made a deep impact on both gatherings and he was so kind and generous in his support for what we are doing through Celebrate. He will be greatly missed.
God bless you all,
Chris
I am so very sad to hear of the loss today of Dennis.
The connection between Dennis and my family goes back a very long way. As a young Liberal in the 1950s, one of the people he campaigned with was my Dad who he got to know well. It was a time when to be a Liberal was distinctly unfashionable. He wrote a really helpful letter to me when my Dad died.
We became friends ourselves in the late 1980s when in the early years of the Maranatha Community, I attended many of the Gatherings in Harpurhey and his ministry was so influential in the development of my faith.
We resumed our friendship in 2012 when for 2 years we worked together under his leadership in one of Maranatha’s Spearhead Teams. With the very divergent views held by the team members on the subject matter for our discussion, I suspect that we must have been a difficult group to guide! But Dennis did indeed guide us with grace and wisdom, and a servant’s heart. His experience and love of the Lord Jesus shone through. I myself learnt a huge amount from Dennis’ leadership in those 2 years, and throughout the time I knew him, for which I am very grateful.
Please do assure Sheila and all the family of my prayers. It is certainly true that Dennis has fought the good fight, finished the race, and has kept the faith. Now there is indeed the crown of righteousness.
God bless to all
Steve
Such sad news for the Christian community in Manchester but for him great release to His Father’s presence. I thank God for every remembrance of Dennis.. love and prayers for those he has left…
I too was sadened to hear the news of Dennis going home to His Father. I have so much to thank him for- his ministry- quiet, humble, always willing to encourage, always wanting to wait and listen to the Spirit for leading, the true servant heart; invites to many gatherings in Harpurhey & Flixton, and the weekends away with teaching and fellowship. I learned so much and my faith grew and was strengthened by it all and the love shared was truly heaven inspired. My prayers go to Sheila and the family at this sad time and also for those now left in leadership of the Maranatha community -that they too may continue the fight, finish the race and keep the faith -the standard he has set for us all. What a witness, what a loving gentle man- what a beautiful crown of righteousness to receive. God bless you all. Debbie
It is with mixed emotions that we hear of the passing from this life of Dennis, a faithful servant of our Lord. I have memories of this man of God, all of them good, but one in particular stands out. In 2003, when I was a Trustee of the Airline Christian Fellowship, we invited Dennis to be the Guest Speaker at our Annual Conference in Bournemouth. It was a very thought-provoking and moving time of fellowship. At the end of the last session Dennis the gathered saints to sing [and conga!!!] ‘He’s a miracle-working God’. It was a fabulous moment, all caught on camera.
At the end Dennis recounted the story of how his Grandfather had founded a church at Ana Mabou in Ghana. Present at our Conference were a group of brothers and sisters from Ghana Airways, one of whom said that he lived 2 miles from that church! This revelation brought a closeness in the meeting that shows that God is all-encompassing and we are all one in Christ.
We pray for Sheila and the family at this time, as well as the Maranatha Community. Dennis has been Promoted to Glory, a reward which he richly deserves.
It is with sadness that I have heard of the passing of a dear friend and faithful Brother in Christ I had the honour of meeting him at several “First Sunday Gatherings” in Manchester and in Macclesfield where he encouraged me to share my testimony and on one occasion I was asked to pray for him at his home in the presence of Sheila and another friend. He will be missed by myself and people here in Buxton.
We are praying for God’s great blessing on Sheila, all the family and the whole Maranatha community at this time. With our love, Roger and Sue Mitchell
I haven’t be in touch with Maranatha since I was at Manchester Business School in 1984-6, but today I am working on the story of how the Lord has worked in my life over the course of my life; I had got to the Manchester part of the story just now, and was about to write about how hugely significant Maranatha was in my growth as a Christian, and thought I would have a look at your website and saw the news about Dennis. Between them Dennis and Michael Buckley made a huge impact on me in those years when I was in mid-20s, opening me up to work of the Holy Spirit. Farewell dear brother. I am looking forward to our re-union, when I can tell you of the impact you had on my life as a follower of Jesus.
Just got to hear the news (Thursday 12.11.15 Eve) … I hope all goes well for Sheila & the community – Dennis has been a great part of the lives of Elaine & I – especially in our early days.
God’s ministry ‘call’ was affirmed to both of us together – through Dennis’s ministry.
Through the work of Dennis & Sheila & Marantha … along with Sister Elizabeth Tuttle, & Sister Kathleen O Sullivan … we have always inherited a Kingdom outlook for the church as a whole, rather than being denominationally bound.
That in itself has built some great cross-denominational relationships, & opened me to being charismatic … a heavy influence on the ministry of Elaine & I … through which many have benefitted.
Great to know that this is not an end, but a new begining … & that we will all meet again.
Meanwhile … the Lord Bless You & Keep You … the Lord make His face shine upon you & be gracious to you … the Lord lift up His countenance upon you & be gracious to you … & give you peace. AMEN. (Rev. Dave Burrows)
I will always remember the first time we met and you and Maranatha helped me in so many ways. I will miss you but I know you are with God and that is good to know. Goodnight my friend and rest with the Lord.
I met Dennis and Sheila through their dear friend, Sister Elizabeth Tuttle. She preceded him to the Heavenly Kingdom and will have welcomed him. Just think of the work they can do together now! May God bless Sheila and the wider Maranatha Community.
Thank you so much Sister Tuttle and Dennis for your beautiful poems amd Sister Tuttle’s explanation of Ezekiel 47 which I found amazing as I never would have thought that to be the Life Prayer – I was so glad I had found it. I really love Maranatha – it is so very prayerful and very intimate – God Bless them both in the Kingdom – I bet its a heck of a party! nancy.tindall77@outlook.com St Chad’s Romiley.