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January 14, 2004
A parting of ways ....
Due to a number of things I was late home tonight. This is always a pity, because Tuesday evenings there is a Said Eucharist in one of the Ambulatory Chapels at the Abbey, and I like to go. It provides me with an opportunity to shed some of the frustrations and to just be quiet in a spiritually refreshing setting. Tonight it was an even greater shame, because Fr Paul (aka The Lord Abbot) had news which he wanted to impart face to face.
He rang me just over an hour ago to tell me that a member of the Ministry team at the Abbey, Fr David, had died suddenly today.
Father David was retired, but still did regular services at the Abbey and was a kind and gentle person of huge intellect - but never talked down to anyone or belitteled anyone not in the same league. Indeed, he often went out of his way to help someone struggling to understand something or some reference they found difficult. And he always did so gently, carefully and full of patient understanding. His sermons were an education in themselves, succinct, erudite and witty, they were always very well worth listening too and almost always sent you off to go and read further.
He was a scholar of classical languages and often amused us with his witty quotes and translations. He was also an historian and specialised in Medieval documents, reading and translating these with great interest and could share this with you in the most entertaining and interesting ways.
Fr David had spent a considerable part of his ministry abroad, in Turkey where he was Chaplain to the English School in Ankara and frequently returned to his former charge as a welcome and feted guest.
I will personally miss sitting occasionally with him in the congegation or at a musical occasion in the Abbey. Again his knowledge of sacred music was extensive and he enjoyed it immensely. Anyone in his company could not help but enjoy it with him.
It is occasionally given to us to meet and to walk briefly with a person whose faith is often almost tangible. It has been my privilege to have known several such men and women, and I number Fr David among them. I know that he will be received in Heaven and rest in the peace he has earned. I hope that I shall one day have the joy of meeting him again.
This is one of the men of whom it is possible to use the epitaph on Christopher Wren's tomb in a wider context.
"If you seek his monument, look about you."
Fr David has not left a great building or any other edifice that people will flock to gaze at, but he has left his mark on all who knew him. In his latin I use a saying he would find apposite: Quescunque tacit; vestigia legat. "Who touches, leaves a mark."
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace,
And rise in glory,
Through our saviour Jesus Christ
Amen.
Posted by The Gray Monk at January 14, 2004 12:34 AM