As a surgeon and a Church of England priest Thomas Paul Edgar Nener dedicated his life to healing – of both body and soul. Born on 11 September 1942 in Prescot, Lancashire, he was the only child of Irene Nener née Smith and Phil Nener. He grew up in Liverpool and, following secondary school at the Liverpool Institute, gained a place at the medical school of the University of Liverpool. He was awarded two prizes as a medical student, the Kanthack medal for pathology and the J Hill Abrams prize in medicine and, in 1966, graduated with first class honours. He was a house officer at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, working in surgery for Howell Hughes and David Annis and for John Robertson in medicine. He was a demonstrator in anatomy at the University of Liverpool and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1971. He then spent two years in Boston, USA. Returning to a surgical middle grade job in Liverpool, his surgical career was progressing well. In 1974, Paul made a profound choice, to leave behind a flourishing medical career in the UK to answer a call as a surgeon and missionary with the United Society Partners in the Gospel in South Africa. He served for over four years at the Jane Furse Hospital in the Sekhukhune district. Here he worked with relentless energy, not only as a surgeon but also to revitalise the parish church and hospital chapel, transforming them into vibrant centres of prayer and community. He believed passionately that what distinguished a mission hospital was not just medical care, but the ‘beauty of holiness’ nourished by deep Christian teaching, a conviction that was the hallmark of his ministry. On returning to England, he was accepted for ordination at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, Yorkshire, a place that was to remain a strong influence in his life. He was ordained as a priest in 1981 and was curate to Warrington Parish Church under Canon Joc Colling, whose wisdom and patience helped hone Paul’s prodigious gifts. Despite their differences, Paul and his mentor forged a partnership rooted in respect, humour and shared commitment to service. Paul twice followed vicars who had served more than four decades, first at St James’s, Haydock, then at St John’s, Tuebrook, flagship of Liverpool’s Anglo-Catholic tradition. At St James’s, the church overflowed each Sunday, with hundreds gathering for worship and daily prayer. Paul, together with Father George Guiver, developed a simple daily office for use at home, fostering a rhythm of devotion in the parish that lasted beyond his tenure. Known for his authenticity, quick wit and humanity, Paul inspired love and respect in his parishioners, many of whom were from the mining communities of Merseyside. He was a ‘force of nature’ whose directness, joy and compassion guided his flock, even as he navigated the inevitable challenges and disagreements of parish life. Paul’s theology was deeply rooted in the conviction that the Church of England, in all its forms, was the Catholic Church for the land. He resisted the lure of sectarian movements and pressure groups, believing that Catholic identity could not be reduced to membership or activism. In later years, Paul grieved as he watched the Church of England, in his words, ‘turn into a sect’ through misplaced managerialism and a loss of its divine charism. A realist in many respects, Paul, though opposed in principle to the ordination of women, lived graciously with the Church’s evolving reality. He became a sought-after spiritual director to many women priests, receiving communion at their hands and quietly defying those who would have excluded him from higher office for being ‘not quite sound’. Paul served for 15 years on the General Synod and devoted decades to the Guild of St Raphael, a Christian organisation dedicated to promoting, supporting and practicing Christ’s ministry of healing. These, along with his strong bond and friendship with the Romanian Orthodox community, testified to his commitment to the wider Christian church. His home was a place of warmth and welcome, a reflection of the expansive love he extended to all. When Paul died on 28 September 2023 in Wirral at the age of 81 more than 300 mourners gathered for his funeral. Among the tributes was a moving letter from a Romanian Archbishop, recalling Paul’s hospitality and ability to draw others into the embrace of God’s love. As the preacher said that day, to seek Paul’s monument, one need only look around at the lives he touched. Paul Nener’s legacy endures in the churches he served, the friendships he cherished and the communities he shaped with prayer, laughter and love. His sense of being a doctor and surgeon, however, never left him.