Derek Prime, M.A., S.Th., was born in 1931 in South Lambeth, London, and attended Westminster City School. His parents were neither professing Christians nor churchgoers and Sundays were spent in visiting his grandmother until she was killed by enemy action in the early years of the war. In 1944, at the age of 13, some school-friends persuaded him to go with them to a Bible class at Lansdowne Evangelical Free Church in West Norwood, near his home. There he heard the gospel and became a Christian. In June 1946, at the age of 15, he was baptized and received into church membership. As many of the older men were away on military service, he had many opportunities of speaking and preaching.
During his teen years, he began to sense a call to the ministry which was soon confirmed and he was ordained to his first pastorate in 1957. He was for twelve years pastor at Lansdowne Evangelical Free Church before moving to Edinburgh at the age of 38 with his wife and four children. Prime was appointed minister at Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, where he served for eighteen years (1969-1987).
While at Lansdowne, he was President of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (1966). Since 1987 he has given his time to writing and itinerant ministry and has written a number of books and articles. Derek Prime is the author of Let’s Study 2 Corinthians, published by the Trust.
Derek Prime was called home to glory on March 28, 2020, at the age of 89.