On Sunday, February 2, I posted a photo of Rev Jonathan Meyer clutching a hot water bottle on the Rye News Instagram page. This is because, though not a religious person or regular church goer, I actually have a 'top three' of priests.
At number one is the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Loulias, who conducted my father's funeral recently. At number three, and he knows this, is Rev Paul of St Mary's. And at number two is Rev Jonathan Meyer, who until last week was rector of St Thomas' in Winchelsea, with responsibility for Pett, Pett Level and Icklesham.
All of these inspirational men are supreme professionals, who perform at their very best under all circumstances, living up to the highest expectations placed upon them, while remaining grounded, accessible and in touch with everyday life and the communities they serve.
Jonathan turned 70 on Saturday, February 1 and he won't mind me telling you this as it is pertinent to events. He and his wonderful wife Shirley, have spent the last seven years in East Sussex, but under the archaic rules of the Church of England, 70 means that he has to retire. So from one day to the next, job, home, friendship circle, parish, all gone. Not much of a thank you for a life of service, although I'm sure that Jonathan wouldn't see it that way and certainly wouldn't express it in those terms.
So last Sunday was his final service and the church was full. Not unusual for St Thomas' under his tenure, but on that day it was bolstered by Jonathan and Shirley's family, friends and from Oxfordshire, some of his previous parishioners.
He started by apologising for the cold as the heating had broken down and explaining that he could only find one hot water bottle at home. He told us that he therefore had to think long and hard about who to give it to, before offering it to Charlotte Beecroft. This was his unique way of publicly recognising someone who had shown great support and devotion to her church over the years of his ministry.
He had brought two more items with him. A cross made by his tiny granddaughter Fiadh, which he placed at the foot of the altar and another that had been given to him years before, in Oxfordshire by six-year-old Henry. It had been made from various bits of wood found on his family farm; this Jonathan placed on the altar. Henry was one of 12 members of one family, christened by him over the years. "Enough of my whimsy," he announced and the service began.
His sermon was beautifully balanced between the message of Candlemas, the story of Simeon, righteous, hopeful and patient and Jonathan's own life and faith. He recalled his father, his mother and his theology studies and mentioned Shirley and their girls, Charlotte and Ellie. With his usual modesty, he quoted one of his friends who recognised the same childhood "slightly vague, supercilious gaze" in the man before us today. Although clearly moved, he kept his emotions in check until the final word, when their weight was suddenly laid bare.
Whether from the cold or from the sadness of the occasion, St Thomas' witnessed an unusual amount of tissues, dabbing of eyes, wiping of noses, cracked voices and clearing of throats.
Jonathan's departing words characteristically lightened the atmosphere, as he lead the congregation in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday, for choir master, Marion Lovell.
When I remember Jonathan, who I always call 'Rev', after the TV series (I had to explain to him that it was in fact a compliment, as it was one of my favourite programmes ever) I'll think of a few specific things:
- the pet service that he held one summer All things bright and beautiful as part of the Celebrating Creation flower festival he and Shirley organised and which he wrote about for this paper 'Winchelsea flower festival' . It was joyful and eccentric and he made it seem quite normal and totally appropriate that God's creatures should be blessed and recognised as equally valued family members.
- another is the day we bumped into one another in the churchyard. I was looking for the grave of the husband of a friend of mine. He knew exactly where it was and proceeded to tell me in detail what an extraordinary funeral it had been, even though it had taken place two years and many services ago.
- Jonathan as auctioneer, at a Winchelsea New Hall fundraiser. A masterclass in how to hold a huge audience in the palm of your hand, with humour and the lightest of touches.
- asking a heathen like me to read at the Nine Lessons and Carols service on Christmas Eve and choosing a passage that wouldn't offend my feminist sensibilities...or speaking to Sergio in Italian, so as not to lose his fluency.
- and finally dawn service on the beach at Easter, when he'd shout "Good morning fishermen" to rather surprised men as they trudged down to the shore. Never has "Christ is Risen" been so moving as when you turn and see the sun rising over the horizon.
I recently quoted Nigel Ashton, in an article about the sound and lighting project planned for St Thomas Let there be light. He reminded us that by the end of this year, there will be over a thousand vacancies for priests in the Church of England and only 370 people in training. I'll let you do the maths and make your own comments, as mine are unprintable. Some have said that it could be up to two years before a replacement is found. For Winchelsea, this fate is totally unnecessary, but I'm taking a leaf out of Jonathan's book and turning the other cheek.
God we'll miss you Rev.
