WILFRED RUTLEY MOWLL
It is with deep regret that we
record the passing of the Vicar’s
Warden at Bekesbourne, Mr.
Wilfred Mowll. But with this
sadness we couple thanks for
having known the man.
At the funeral held in his
parish church of St. Peter’s with
a crowded congregation, his son
the Revd. William Mowll said:—
“This is an opportunity to pay a
short farewell, a tribute, to my
father, Wilfred Rutley Mowll.
But first, before I do that, a word
about funerals. They are not
quite what they appear to be —
that is to say, centred solely on
the burial of earthly shells, cast
aside for something better and
much more versatile, as a cater-
pillar is to a butterfly. Rather,
funerals are about those who
gather and are brought together
because of what was given to
them in terms of love, affection
or respect during that person’s
lifetime. A funeral ought to be an
unashamed group of people who
savour what was good about the
man and forgive anything less.
Wilfred’s death leaves a hole in the heart of all of us. . .his natural inclination
was to be captured by what St. Paul lists as ‘the fruits of the Spirit’, truth, justice,
beauty and kindness. His good fortune was to find a partner and also a job in
which these inclinations fitted well, and enabled him to live a life of great resp-
onsibility with enviable—that’s the word—enviable, and fulfilling happiness.
May his soul rest in peace, and the courage of faith be given to us at his passing, I
ask you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Vicar, the Revd. Canon C.E.H. Perry, and Canon Derek Ingram Hill,
Residentiary Canon at Canterbury Cathedral, also helped to take the service after
which Wilfred was laid to rest in the churchyard near to friends and almost within
the shadow of the church he had loved and served for so many years. Resquiescat
zn pace.
FAREWELL PARTY FOR THE VICAR
Over one hundred parishioners crowded the Village Hall at Bridge on August
16th to say a fond farewell to their Vicar for the past sixteen years.
The Revd. Canon C.E.H. Perry, who had been Vicar of St. Mary’s, Patrix-
bourne, with St. Peter’s, Bridge, and St. Peter’s, Bekesbourne, and his wife
Audrey were greeted by the Churchwardens.
8