EASTHAM, Mass. – P. Bishop Covell, 78, of Eastham, Mass., died Dec. 3. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth A. (Holmes) Covell for 55 years.

Born in Worcester, Mass., he was the son of a Baptist minister and from a musical family; music became his passion. He attended Classical High School in Worcester, Mass. He received an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Gordon College in 1945 and a graduate degree from Gordon Seminary in 1952.

He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Peabody, Mass., from 1950 to 1957, the Court Street Baptist Church in Auburn from 1957 to 1968 and the Warwick Central Baptist Church in Warwick, R.I., from 1968 to 1993.

He was co-founder of Cornerstone Geriatric Care Center in Rhode Island in 1972, a member of the Cape Cod Interfaith Council, chaplain in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol and a member of the Cape Cod Amateur Ham Radio Club. He gave a lifelong commitment to providing furniture and clothing to the needy.

Survivors include children, Timothy, Peter and James Covell of Eastham, Mass., Jonathan Covell of Brewster, Mass., David Covell of Saunderstown, R.I., and Jean Leyton of Eastham, Mass.; 12 grandchildren; two nieces; and two nephews.