From the Vicarage
May 2012
I am writing this following the funeral service of Corporal Jack Stanley on Thursday 26th April at Holy Trinity. The service was appreciated by Jack’s family, his friends from the area and his regiment, and by many people from our town and elsewhere.
This service was a tremendous example of how the parish church is meant to be at the heart of the community. We offer pastoral care and provision, not only for our own congregation, but for all who need God’s love expressed through his people. The co-operation with the Army ensured a dignified and highly disciplined funeral service which was a credit to his regiment and our armed forces in general. The local Police were also professional and caring. They provided an escort from church to the crematorium and organised traffic control to ensure that everything went smoothly. What many do not realise is that police officers lined up and gave a salute as the cortége passed Littleborough Police Station, and there were other officers at the gates of Rochdale cemetery and crematorium to salute the cortége .
The preparations in church on Tuesday, Wednesday and on Thursday itself involved many from our congregation and from St James’ congregation cleaning the church and arranging floral displays. There was a great sense of teamwork and it again illustrates how our united benefice is developing well.
At the service itself, the regimental chaplain, Peter King, gave a superb address emphasising the dedication, the endurance of hardships and other aspects of a soldier’s life. Also of how they think of themselves as just doing their job—not as heroes. That job though, as in Jack’s case, can involve laying down their lives for their friends. The chaplain emphasised the two aspects of Easter, the cross with suffering and death, and the joy of resurrection. That message of Christian hope was delivered with firm conviction that Jack would share in the resurrection life, having endured suffering and death.
Peter’s address began with an expression of thanks to all in the community who had supported Jack’s family, but he gave special thanks to the people of Holy Trinity and St James who had worked so hard and offered such a welcome to all involved in the preparations for the services. It was a privilege to participate in this service with Peter and others who had been involved in caring for Jack and his family. It was also a joy to see the care, compassion and love expressed by so many from the churches.
On this occasion I can give thanks to God for the way his people have shown His love. They have brought glory to God the Holy Trinity in Littlebrough and beyond.
Thank you.
Yours in Christ
John McGrath