In memorium Revd. Dr. Cynthia Fox
Testimony delivered by Meg Willard at Cynthia's Funeral Service
On the evening of Maundy Thursday, when Cynthia had heard that her illness was terminal, she asked if I would give the homily at her funeral, knowing full well I had never done such a thing previously. I replied that if she wrote it, I would try and deliver it. On Good Friday afternoon, I sat by her bedside as she dictated what I am about to read as a draft. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, she was unable to edit or expand on it. We agreed I should read her words, but add whatever I felt to be appropriate. The single constraint was that she wished only to be remembered for her ministry as a priest. The following are her unedited words.
Cynthia's Farewell
On my first visit to St Martin’s, Brighouse, I saw the sun shining on the reredos and knew this was the place I wanted to be.
I came in a state of disarray, as I had to leave a church I loved; where I had worshipped for several years and made many good friends who are here today. But I found at Brighouse a group of people I could love and who have loved and supported me from the start.
I have had a wonderful life and found my profession as a lecturer very fulfilling but nothing to compare with my ministry here.
It was with great delight that I was given permission by Father Michael to start up a few projects and my first was Busy Bees, which was a tremendous amount of fun. I certainly loved the Christingle when the 3-year-old Angel Gabriel stuck her tongue out at the congregation. It has been wonderful to see them grow up and the first Busy Bees now so happy at school. None of this could have been done without my valiant helpers.
The second project was the communion at the old peoples’ home. Nothing gave me greater enjoyment than when we said the Lord’s Prayer and sung the old hymns that they could join in with. A grateful thank you to the committed team behind this.
The Christian Cracker clubs in school have provided me with great joy – again in each club I have had a staunch team of assistants. I think I can say that we made a mark on the children, which for some was lifechanging.
I have loved all my work with the children in all the schools - the assemblies, St Martin’s Players and Eucharists.
The setting up again of the Sunday School has been a pleasure, even though its uptake has been small due to competition with outside interests. A big thank you to the support from a dedicated group.
The Busy Mums grew out of the Busy Bees – again with an intrepid team we have a small, but growing number who meet once a month.
When I started 5 years ago at Church I said to my Spiritual Director that I could not believe I was doing all this children’s work. I had expected to run spirituality days and perhaps pilgrimages. He said to me, “You must do what God calls you to do”, so I said “in that case I had better get on with it”.
Presiding at mass is to me the greatest privilege, but I also consider preaching to be an honour. My apologies to those who have had to listen to my efforts. The taking of funerals and baptisms has been a very meaningful part of my ministry, along with home and sick visiting.
My input at St John's and St Chad's has been much less, but I found the same level of love and support as I did at St Martin’s.
So now I go to my father’s house – where he has prepared a room for me, and in the hope of meeting my big happy family once more. The Russian Tsaritz said “Relationships did not end at the grave, but carried on beyond death”. So my love for you all will never falter. God bless.
Meg's Testimony
“If Cynthia isn’t a Christian, I don’t know who is”. So said a member of St Martin’s congregation to me only 3 weeks ago. Cynthia always described herself as a cradle Christian, and throughout a varied, interesting and often turbulent life, constantly challenged and developed her faith. From a young age she felt the calling to be a priest, a seemingly impossible goal. She faced many obstacles, at first her gender, then her age at the time when women’s ordination became possible, and her physical disability, ever present from her late thirties. When the opportunity finally came to go forward for selection, she was ordained deacon in 2004, became curate at St Martin’s Team Parish and made priest on June 19th 2005.
Cynthia had a gospel to proclaim, and was determined on an active and full time ministry. Her disability with its attendant constant pain was not going to stop her from reaching people with the message of God’s love. She was convinced this meant more than remaining within the confines of the existing church family; she had to go out into the community.
But she needed some help to achieve her aims. Along with the support she has acknowledged, there was an unseen backroom team. Friends, family, doctors, all worked behind the scenes, under the control of her strong character and iron will. I was part of that team, an occasional involvement that became increasingly full time as her ministry expanded.
From my position as driver, wheelchair pusher, robe and crutch carrier and general “go for”; I had a unique opportunity to witness the impact of Cynthia’s work. Within the three churches, in the homes of the sick, in hospitals, schools, old peoples’ homes, she met both Christian and non Christian, young and old, alike. She reached many through her baptisms, weddings and funerals, each one individual. I viewed the time and care she spent in prayerful thought and meticulous preparation for all this work, and the energy and enthusiasm with which she delivered it.
Away from Brighouse, on retreat, pilgrimage or holiday, I saw many drawn by the sincerity of her deep, broad, complex, committed faith, and obvious spirituality In a lift at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, I remember vividly the Irish catholic lady, who saw Cynthia sitting in her wheelchair wearing her dog collar, asking for a blessing. Even at the hospice, in her final hours the staff commented on her serenity.
On becoming a priest, Cynthia said to me she hoped to have five years in a full time ministry and would consider it a success if she brought only one person to Jesus. She managed 4 years and 10 months, and along the way, in her company, quite unexpectedly I met for myself the risen Christ. She achieved her goal, it is for others to judge whether she exceeded it.
Cynthia wished only to be remembered for her ministry. Her legacy is that through her unshakeable faith and belief in Jesus Christ as saviour, brother and friend, she gave many a glimpse of the pathway to the love of God. It is now up to each individual to decide for himself or herself where the inspiration of that experience may take them.
I finish with the words of Cynthia’s favourite blessing, “ When you leave this place, go with a smile on your lips, joy in your heart, and greet everyone you meet with love.”