The Rev. Peter J. Marshall, founder and director of Peter Marshall Ministries died suddenly in Orleans, Mass. this past week. He was 70 years old

Born Jan. 21, 1940, Peter John Marshall was the son of the Scottish minister, Dr. Peter Marshall, who became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, in 1937, and was appointed twice as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, serving from January 1947 until his sudden death at the age of 46. Peter J. Marshall’s mother, Catherine Marshall, wrote the best-selling biography of her husband titled “A Man Called Peter.” This book was later made into an Oscar-nominated film of the same title (1955) in which dad was portrayed as a young child by the actor, Billy Chapin. She wrote many other books, including the best-selling novel, “Christy.”

Rev. Peter J. Marshall in recent years spoke at many churches and conferences on the Christian foundings of our country in a most informative and enjoyable fashion. He was a close friend of the late D. James Kennedy.

A graduate of Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Marshall attended Yale University, where he earned a bachelors degree in history. He then entered Princeton Theological Seminary from which he was graduated in 1965, and was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church, USA. For the next 12 years, he served pastorates in West Hartford, Conn., and East Dennis, Mass.

Since 1977, he had devoted himself to a nationwide ministry of preaching, teaching and writing. He co-authored three best-selling books, “The Light and The Glory,” “From Sea to Shining Sea,” and “Sounding Forth the Trumpet.”

Rev. Marshall is survived by his children, Mary Elizabeth Marshall of Athens, N.Y., Peter Jonathan Marshall of Keller, Texas, and David Christopher Marshall of New York City; two step-brothers, Chester LeSourd of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jeffrey LeSourd of Lincoln, Va.; a stepsister, Linda LeSourd Lader of Washington, D.C., and Charleston, S.C.; and three grandchildren.

Funeral will take place Monday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m., at the Church of the Transfiguration, 5 Bay View Drive, Rock Harbor, in Orleans. Interment follows in the Orleans Cemetery.