Remembering Paul

It is with the deepest sadness that we share the news that Paul Garratt, Cinnamon’s Director of Business Development and Church Engagement, passed away peacefully on Friday 5 June after a long battle with bowel cancer.

While our overwhelming emotion today is one of sorrow, we are also profoundly grateful to have known Paul as a colleague, friend, and faithful follower of Jesus. All Paul ever wanted to do was teach and live out God’s Word, speak truth, and walk in love, and he did exactly that.

Paul joined Cinnamon in 2016 as Fundraising Manager, becoming Head of Business Development and joining the Senior Leadership Team as a Director in 2018. He helped to establish Cinnamon Social Action Audits, the Incubator Competition, Cinnamon Connect, and represented Cinnamon at the Christian Funders’ Forum. He made an extraordinary impact on Cinnamon as an organisation and, more importantly, on the people he encountered.

Paul radiated God’s love. He possessed a gentle charisma that drew people to him because they knew they would be heard, valued, and encouraged. He understood that every person is made in the image of God, and he treated people accordingly – with dignity, grace, and genuine interest.

As a natural encourager, Paul looked for the good in everyone and evidence of God at work, even in the most challenging circumstances. If trouble was at hand, you wanted Paul in the room. He had a remarkable ability to rise above the immediate difficulty and see the bigger story unfolding, demonstrating an optimism that came not from blind hope, but deep faith.

That discernment enabled him to lead with both wisdom and compassion. Difficult decisions were never rushed, and Paul always ensured that priorities were in the right order, placing relationships first and approaching everything prayerfully and thoughtfully.

While it is desperately sad to lose such a dear friend far too soon, what a privilege it has been to walk alongside and learn from a man of such character, conviction, and faith. His legacy lives on, not only through the organisations he helped build and the initiatives he helped launch, but through the countless lives he touched along the way.

As a team, we will continue to ask ourselves in moments of challenge, “What would Paul do?” As Paul’s brother said, “He was one of the very best.” Indeed, he was. We grieve his loss deeply, but we remain profoundly grateful to have known him.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” — Philippians 1:3–4

We take great comfort in knowing that Paul is now with the Lord and Saviour whom he loved, served and trusted so deeply. Our prayers are with his beloved wife Rachel, their children, and all those who knew and loved him.