The Rev. Canon Paul D. Edwards – rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Fullerton, from 1963 to 1994 – died peacefully March 18 at age 93.
Survivors include his three sons – George, John Paul (Lisa), and Robert (Michelle), rector of St. Margaret’s, San Juan Capistrano – and nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Edwards was predeceased by his wife, Anita, in 2022.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 11 at Emmanuel Church, 1145 W. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton. Bishop John Harvey Taylor will officiate. Attendees are asked to consider carpools and ridesharing as parking is limited.
In retirement, Edwards assisted at Trinity, Orange, from 2002 to 2007. He is the author of numerous reflections, articles, and his 1998 book The Spiritual Intelligence Handbook, sales proceeds of which benefited Emmanuel Parish’s well-known “Million Meals” program with local food banks.
Edwards became active in renewal and charismatic ministries which he described as “centering on Jesus’s presence and open to the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
Before being named vicar of Emmanuel Church in 1963 by Bishop F. Eric Bloy, Edwards was for three years chaplain at Sewanee Military Academy.
In 1954, Edwards graduated from the University of the South and went on to Union Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1957, the same year he was ordained deacon and priest in the Diocese of New York.
Upon graduation from seminary, Edwards assisted at St. John’s, Yonkers, N.Y., which at that time had a Sunday school serving more than 500 young people.
In 1959 he entered the U.S. Army, serving one year at Fort Gordon southwest of Augusta, Ga., and a second year in Korea.
Edwards was born in New York City in 1932 and attended Bronxville High School. His mother was a teacher, and his father was both dean and head of the economics department at City College, New York.
In 1981, Edwards earned a master’s degree at Chapman University.