Farewell to an old friend

It's been overcast and damp all day today, sombre to suit the mood. This morning I had a funeral at Pidgeon's Chapel of Rest at then, and then on to the Vale Crematorium. Afterwards I was driven by Huw to St Mary's the Docks, as we used to call it, to attend Fr Graham Francis' funeral. I'd requested this drop off instead of going home as time between them wouldn't have allowed me to go home and then go to St Mary's in time. It turned out that Huw also wanted to attend, being one of the multitudes of people Graham made friends with over his lifetime.

We arrived twenty five minutes early and all the seats were taken already, By the time the Funeral Mas began with the Angelus there were about five people in church, with about a hundred of them clergy, half of them robed, and the rest in the congregation. I stood at the back of the church with about thirty others. Although I had robes with me from the previous funeral I felt that I just wanted to be one the receiving end rather than the presiding side of the altar rail. Graham and I were together in St Mikes fifty two years ago. We worked overnight shifts together as Samaritans volunteers, let out of college on an informal pastoral placement by the Principal O G Rees. I was deacon at his first Mass. His wife Eleri is Kath's godmother, so more life family than a professional acquaintance. in times liky this I am grateful if I don't have to give out but can just receive.

The service was beautifully organised in  way he would have approved of. It's likely he vetted the texts and made sure with his advance preparations that every detail as carefully thought through. He was that kind of person, and what a difference it made. Included were a couple of hymns I'd choose for my own funeral, one by Charles Wesley the other  by St John Henry Newman. We started with the Angelus and ended as his coffin was being loaded into the hearse with the Salve Regina. 

Fr Dean Atkins, a lifelong friend and disciple of his gave a truly remarkable homily which was both a eulogy full of joy and laughter, which combined beautifully reflections on the Mystery of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth with references to Penrhys and Walsingham pilgrimages, and pastoral life in the Valleys. Bishop Philip North presided, who has known Graham for years. Traditional Catholic liturgy at its very best, something he cared deeply about and encouraged others to do as well as he did.

There was a wake in the Bute Town community centre afterwards, but I had no energy to spend on an hour socialising over sandwiches, so Clare and I walked up to John Lewis' and had lunch there before returning home, pondering the loss of a friend since the beginning of time in ministry. Apart from Martin, there are few others with whom we go back so far. May he rest in peace.