Reverend Donald Martin Ferriday (1930 – 2006)

an appreciation

It was a great pleasure and a privilege to the asked by Martin and Lynn to conduct Don's funeral, which took place on Friday 10^th November. As most of you will know, Don Ferriday was Rector of this parish from 1977 to 1998 and, of all the people I have met, Don was without doubt one of the most influential and impressive. More than fifteen years ago it was Don who encouraged my first faltering steps towards ordained ministry and, in common with many in this parish and beyond, I can testify to Don's priestly gifts of encouraging and enabling the ministry of others. It is partly through Don's encouragement that I am a priest within Christ's church, who is licensed to this parish. Furthermore in recent years it has been my pleasure, on behalf of this parish, to visit Don and to enable him to receive Holy Communion.

Those who attended the funeral did so to pay tribute to a good man; a gifted and committed minister of word and sacrament. For many it was saying thank you to God for Don's singular gifts of facilitating Christian healing, a ministry to which he devoted much of his adult life. It is a ministry that touched many people and Don encouraged many to pursue this aspect of Christian discipleship. What is often forgotten is the time and sheer effort involved in the healing ministry and one often encounters people, not only on Wirral but also over a very wider area, who recall Don with gratitude.

Some people will have memories of Don's ability to listen and provide discreet and confidential personal counselling, more often than not carried out in the calm of the beautiful and peaceful room in the Rectory which he used as his study. In fact I always found it a little too warm and a little too cosy and I once embarrassed myself by almost falling asleep in a meeting.

Some will remember Don’s excellent preaching, a ministry of the word inspired by the Holy Spirit and firmly grounded in scripture, tradition and modulated by the light of human reason. From the pulpit Sunday by Sunday Don preached to both the heart and the mind; more often than not touching the inner person. The high standard maintained week by week over such a long ministry was truly remarkable, and reflected careful prayerful preparation, wide reading and frequent practice. Still others will be giving thanks for Don's uplifting Christian witness and not least his priestly sacramental ministry at altar and font.

It should never be forgotten, that all these achievements occurred against a background of a far from robust constitution and persistent health problems linked to diabetes from which Don suffered most of his adult life.

Don was born and brought up in Cheshire, mostly in the City of Chester. He attended the Choir School, where a fellow pupil was Dennis Kelly who was for many years incumbent of St. Andrew’s, the neighbouring parish to St. Bridget’s. Later Don attended The King’s School Chester, and followed this with the study of theology at St David's College Lampeter in the University of Wales. Ordination training took Don to Queen's College Birmingham and he was ordained Deacon in 1957 and priest in 1958. Beginning his ministry with curacies at Stockport St. Saviour and St. Peter's Heswall, Don was successively Vicar of All Saints Cheadle Hulme, first Rector of Chester Team, before becoming Rector of this parish.

Don was essentially a shy man, who warmed on personal contact and could be extremely witty with those with whom he felt at ease. Don was a true and faithful servant and disciple of Christ. We mourn with his family, especially with his loved ones, Martin, Lynn and Jessica, as we commemorate the passing of a fine Christian witness and disciple. Although a man of small stature, Don was a man of spiritual height, depth and gravitas and, to use a word so often misused, one of true charisma. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have known him, both as priest, colleague and friend.

Don lived his life with an unshakable faith in the reality of the Gospel, of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life to all who believe and trust.

May Don rest in peace and rise in glory.

David Chester

December 2006