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Yesterday my wife and I went to the village of Ingleton in North Yorkshire for the funeral of Geoff Richardson, a deacon at Ingleton Evangelical Church who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 47. As we walked along the street towards the parish church of St Mary we understood why this church building was being used instead of his home church. Ahead of us was a line of people obviously going to the funeral too. Arriving with more than 20 minutes to spare we found every seat already taken. We turned into a room immediately under the tower, but there were no vacant seats there either and we prepared to sit on some tables at the back when some younger people kindly vacated their seats for us. I suppose there were some 60 people sitting and standing in that room with the doors open into the nave.
The service was moving, appropriate, both solemn and joyful, conducted by the pastor Jim Day. The main address was by the retired pastor, John Mollitt, who knew Geoff in his unconverted days, and saw the wonderful transformation which Christ brought about in his life and his growth in grace and Christian service. His thoughtful words, spoken clearly and with conviction, skilfully linked Geoff's life with four phrases from the writings of the apostle Paul: without Christ; in Christ; for Christ; and with Christ. The gospel was clearly and powerfully presented. Geoff himself was first brought to consider his need by the funeral of his grandmother. Who can tell what seeds were sown as his life and death were remembered yesterday?
The service was moving, appropriate, both solemn and joyful, conducted by the pastor Jim Day. The main address was by the retired pastor, John Mollitt, who knew Geoff in his unconverted days, and saw the wonderful transformation which Christ brought about in his life and his growth in grace and Christian service. His thoughtful words, spoken clearly and with conviction, skilfully linked Geoff's life with four phrases from the writings of the apostle Paul: without Christ; in Christ; for Christ; and with Christ. The gospel was clearly and powerfully presented. Geoff himself was first brought to consider his need by the funeral of his grandmother. Who can tell what seeds were sown as his life and death were remembered yesterday?
