Posted Thursday 7 February 2008
The sky hung low and grey over Gourock on Thursday 7 February. It was time for the people of St Bartholomew’s, along with local clergy of all denominations, to pay their last respects to the Rev Prebendary Graham Holley, who had served as priest-in-charge from 1997 until his second retirement in 2006.
Graham had planned every detail of his own funeral service in the form of a Requiem Mass, which was beautifully conducted by the Rev Drew Sheridan and the Rev Alan Boyd, with the organ played by Graham’s son-in-law, Henry Wallace.
Following the service, Graham’s body was taken to his beloved Much Marcle in Herefordshire for burial in the churchyard of the parish church, another St Bartholomew’s.
For 28 years, from 1967 to 1994, Graham had been the Rector of Much Marcle. The people of Gourock came to know many of the characters from Much Marcle who often featured in Graham’s sermons and anecdotes - sometimes as if they had stepped straight from the pages of an Agatha Christie novel.
During his years at Much Marcle, Graham served his church and diocese extremely well. With his background as a teacher, he contributed much to the Diocesan Education and Schools Committee; he also played a major role in the Church Union, the Diocesan Missionary Council and the Federation of Catholic Priests.
It was in recognition of his work for the diocese of Hereford that Bishop John Estaugh presented him to the stall of Putsan de minore in Hereford Cathedral, hence bestowing upon him the title Prebendary.
Graham completed his schooling at Reading School before training as a teacher at Culham College. After a spell of teaching he was called to the priesthood, preparing for ordination at Salisbury. He worked as a priest in various charges in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire before moving to Herefordshire.
It was in Hereford that he met his wife-to-be, Eleanor. Since their marriage in Hereford Cathedral, Eleanor was a tremendous source of strength to Graham, especially in his Gourock years when physical illness and gradual loss of sight greatly handicapped his movement and activity.
For Eleanor, daughters Louisa and Amelia and all the family we offer our prayers of sympathy while giving thanks to God for the inspiration and renewal that Graham brought to St Bartholomew’s, Gourock.
• Evan Williams, Treasurer, St Bartholomew’s.
Category: General
