We were saddened to learn of the death of Canon Richard Kingsbury, former Rector of Caversham, last week. The funeral took place at St. Gregory’s parish church in Bedale, North Yorkshire, on Monday, 17th June, at 2.30 p.m.
It is hoped that there will be a memorial service for Richard at St Peter’s later in the year.
Funeral address by Canon Middleton
On Sunday 24 September 1967 two young men knelt before the Bishop of Newcastle, one to be made Deacon – Richard John Kingsbury – and the other to be ordained Priest – me. Two days earlier in the course of the ordination retreat, I had whispered to said deacon “How about a swift half in the Wellington?” , for I had been tipped off by a mutual friend that I’d find a kindred spirit in Dick Kingsbury. So, in a natural break in the solemn proceedings we slipped out, and from there the friendship blossomed.
In my new-found friend I discovered a joie de vivre lacking in many a ‘pale young curate’, as Gilbert & Sullivan would have it. He still played hockey, remarkable to a non-sporty type like me, but, most impressively, he had shown impeccable judgement in marrying Angela. There was always much laughter as we met as a foursome, especially when Dick smuggled a bottle of bubbly [quite against the rules] into the maternity ward so that we could all celebrate the arrival of Mark. Sadly, as we both moved to new jobs, we weren’t near enough to rejoice in the same way when Anna, Ellie & John made their entrances into society.
Those were the days before Alternative Service Book and Common Worship. The Book of Common Prayer was the order of the day and the form used for our ordination. Dick retained a life-long affection for the BCP, understandable in an English graduate from King’s College London. He had a natural way with language and wrote beautifully, well-reflected in his work before ordination: first in an advertising agency and then as Information Officer for The International Planned Parenthood Federation – what a gift for the best man at their wedding!
But of course today its not just the beauty of the language of both the BCP and the Authorized Version of the Bible that matters but the eternal mystery they proclaim of deep speaking to deep – the divine love touching our spirit. Just stand back a minute, Jesus suggests to us in the lesson from Luke, think about things, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Or to fit this electronic age, take a break from Facebook and think about the things that matter. Similarly from S.John, we are given another focus “In my Father’s house are many mansions”, indicating there is more to life that we can ever know about in this world: the fulness of the Kingdom is yet to be revealed.
Thomas Cranmer in his service for the Burial of the Dead, keeps faith with the Good News. Ironically in his short service, there is no provision for what I am doing now, the service speaks for itself affirming the triumph of faith hope and love in the Resurrection, as the collect begins:
O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally.
A priest’s ministry is about making these connections to the communities he serves. As Chaplain of King’s London and then as Vicar of Hungerford and Rector of Caversham, Dick devoted himself to the classic role of the English parish priest, with the added extra in Kings that he had to teach first year Greek to the theologians. As Angie recalls, he just managed to stay one lesson ahead! And of course Angie was a wonderful source of support and encouragement at all times.
A priest’s life is a mixed bag, the joys and sorrows of others are added to one’s own. In baptizing, marrying and taking funerals the priest cares for people where they are, and this was the faithful ministry to which Dick was devoted. George Herbert that exemplar of the priestly vocation describes it well. Having declared in his poem The Priesthood that he is:
Much unfit, to deal in holy writ
Nevertheless he must respond to the call
Only, since God doth often vessels make
Of lowly matter for high uses meet
I throw me at his feet
Following in this tradition means devoting time to people, and even here Dick was not contained by the parish. Becoming a prison visitor while at Lincoln Theological College, led to a life long interest in that world, and in due course he was appointed a member of The Parole Board. While in Caversham, the super-grass special unit at Reading Prison became a regular haunt, and, I guess, were it not for priestly confidentiality, there might have been a best seller to write.
And I was a beneficiary of his interests beyond these shores. Being invited to join an Anglo-Scandinavian Pastoral Conference, which enterprise Dick had co-founded with a fellow University Chaplain from Sweden, I found myself on the plane to Helsinki. The object was to increase understanding between us Anglicans and Nordic Lutherans, and the means of achieving it on this occasion was certainly original. Getting off the coach from the airport we were led into the basement of a skyscraper with the instruction from our Finnish host “now take off your clothes”. What next? Shower, sauna and swimming pool – after which we had nothing to hide…It was all male by the way!
An honorary canonry of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, recognized Dick’s contribution to the diocese and parishes he served. A service he continued in retirement in the parishes of “the beloved Dales”, as Angie refers to them. The Wensleydale Railway became a keen interest, as did another new pursuit, water-colour painting, and not the usual landscapes but portraits.
Loving husband, devoted father, proud grandfather, good friend, wonderful company, faithful priest – for all this we give thanks to God. But Cranmer in his prayer book would not have us leave it there. Again, from the collect we pray:
that at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight
As we remember someone we love, the service also points us towards how we all belong together. The great divine mystery of the universe includes everyone, and the evidence is freely given for us all to share, God’s love.
And it is to that love and mercy we commend Richard John Kingsbury.
Rest eternal grant unto him O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon him.
Canon Michael Middleton is the former Canon Treasurer of Westminster Abbey