Tributes to Bishop David Sheppard
David
Sheppard’s funeral took place at St Bridget’s Church on Thursday, March 17th.
As David and Grace had wished, our Rector Roger Clarke led the service, and
four bishops and an archbishop took part. David’s life was remembered in a
splendid address by Michael Henshall, former Bishop of
Tribute by The Right Reverend James
Jones, Bishop of
Thirty
years ago Scripture Union produced a ground-breaking series of audio cassettes
to help young people feed on the Bible, called Start the Day. A fresh-faced Cliff Richard read the scriptures, and
different distinguished Christians did the commentary. The one on Isaiah
featured Bishop David Sheppard. I know he approached the task with meticulous
care. He had a passion to show those who took the Bible seriously that there
was a bias in God to the poor. I listened to his cassette over and over again –
not least because I, then in my mid 20s, was the series producer, and I had to
edit each of the 28 programmes! Little did I know then that as Bishop and
teacher of the faith, David was teaching his successor what he taught
throughout his ministry, that the calling of every Christian and the task of
the Bishop in particular “is to have a special care for the outcast and the
needy”; and that the conversion which lies at the heart of Christianity is
about changing structures as well as hearts.
David’s
was a prophetic ministry. Often in the Church we call people prophets when we
know we ought to agree with them but we haven’t quite got the courage to go all
the way! David had the stubborn fearlessness of the prophet – whether he was
challenging religious bigotry or confronting political power, local or
national.
He
was one of a handful of Diocesan Bishops of the 20th century who
exercised leadership and influence not just in the Church but in the life of
the nation.
The
titles of his books Bias to the Poor,
Better Together, Steps along
But
it was not just as Prophet that he left his mark, but as Pastor.
I
stand here on behalf of his beloved Diocese of Liverpool, to whom David was
Father in God for 22 years, to say that we remember him today as both prophet
and pastor, and do so with deep thankfulness to God for his servant leadership.
As
Bishop of Liverpool he ordained hundreds of deacons and priests, he confirmed
thousands of Christians in their faith and he inspired millions by his example.
To
God be the Glory for such a servant of Jesus Christ.
Oh that we might with Grace have grace to follow his
good example.
Mike Brearley, friend, psychoanalyst
and
In his tribute, Mike Brearley spoke
of their friendship, and of David’s qualities as a cricketer, captain and
campaigner against apartheid. In 1968 during the D’Oliveira
Affair, Brearley supported David, seconding David’s
famous motion at the Special MCC meeting, to regret the Committee’s mishandling
of affairs leading up to the selection of the team, and calling for no further
tours of South Africa to take place until there was progress towards non-racial
cricket. He recalled how David stood up to Sir Alec Douglas-Home, the former
Prime Minister and an MCC Committee member, who was inclined not to take the
sportsmen seriously.
He spoke of David’s
cricket skills with enthusiasm, showing the appreciation of a fellow batsman
for elegant cover drives and unshakeable concentration. David played in 22
tests, twice as captain. He remains the only ordained priest to have played for
Their friendship became
close and lasted until his death: “I remember a phone call I had a few weeks
ago when David said he was feeling quite well - he had had half a good night. I
imagine most of us might have dwelt on the other half”.
Miss Carol Makin, David’s
colorectal surgeon
In
the last of the three tributes, we heard about David’s life with cancer, from
the surgeon who diagnosed him in 2001 and treated him throughout his four year
struggle. Miss Makin had not known of him before he
became her patient, but he clearly made a great impression on her, and a warm
relationship developed between her and David and Grace. She recalled his
determination as he set himself goals: first to finish his autobiography Steps along Hope Street; through finding
the strength for his last sermon at the Pause
for Hope service in Liverpool Cathedral; to the last, living to see Grace’s
70th birthday and be present as their family and friends came to her
party on the day he died. He was courageous and open about having bowel cancer,
an illness that many people keep hidden. Miss Makin
spoke movingly about how she discussed with him where he would like to die.
There was no doubt: at home, with that
view. David did die at home, as he wished, in his conservatory with the
magnificent view that we in
Requiescat in pace
April 2005