Fr Dennis Smith, requiem mass for
Alan Morgan, R.I.P. Monday, 8th. February, 2016
Whether as a member of the Borough Architect’s Office
working for Bootle Council or in retirement, any
conversation with Alan would immediately have alerted you
to the fact that his native roots lay in East Lancashire –
I think somewhere in the Burnley area had been the family
home. At some stage Alan and his widowed mum came to live
in Netherton, and so began his deep and much-valued
connection with St Oswald’s Church, where for a number of
years he sang in the choir and was a much-respected Scout
Leader of the church troop.
Alan came to us at St Faith’s in the mid
1980s and was soon welcomed into our own choir. During Fr
Ged Callacher’s time as Director of Music Alan was
presented with the Royal School of Church Music Long
Service Award for his 30 years as a chorister. Fr George
Gilford, who had known Alan as a friend from their
Netherton days together, has told me that choir members
both here and at St Oswald’s who served with Alan,
remember him for his lovely baritone voice, along with his
pronunciation of Latin with a distinctive Lancashire
accent! More importantly, says George, he will be
remembered for his warm and gentle nature.
Alan always had a penchant for ‘High
Church’ liturgy – ‘smells and bells’ as he put it, so he
always felt at home here in St Faith’s. Apart from his
musical contributions Alan’s willingness to share and take
part in the Sunday liturgy will always be remembered. He
was an exceptionally good reader of lessons during the
mass and was particularly gifted at leading the
intercessions – his clear, confident and powerful voice
added much to the worship which played so important a part
in his devotional and committed discipleship.
Only last week Christine Spence reminded
me of the home-made bun loaves which Alan would bring to
church to sell in support of fund-raising, and I had
totally forgotten another of Alan’s contributions, which
was his popular quince and elderberry wine! He liked to
play his part and do as much as he could for the church
which had become so important a part of his life.
For many years Alan lived at home with his
widowed mother, but after her death he eventually moved
from Netherton and bought a house in Aughton, near
Ormskirk. Fr George told me that visitors to the house
were entertained by Alan playing his two-manual electronic
organ. This could often be hear outside – the windows
rattling as you approached the house. Alan would be sat at
his beloved organ, thumbing through Hymns Ancient and
Modern Revised, and playing his favourite tunes.
For many years now, whenever we have seen
Alan sitting in his pew at the Sung Mass on a Sunday. we
have seen him next to his most dear and faithful friend,
Philip. I’ve always found it hard to think of the one
witho9ut the other. God blessed Alan with a wonderful gift
for friendship, and many of us here today are extremely
grateful that we have been able to count him as a very
dear and much valued friend.
I’ve already referred to Alan’s warm and
gentle manner – he was indeed a ‘gentleman’ in every sense
of the word – kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness and
generosity exuded from him in spades, and he was truly as
nice and lovely a person as one could ever wish to meet.
In the past two or three years it has been
sad to see the increasing deterioration in Alan’s mental
health and to observe his diminishing capacity to cope
with his circumstances. It is to his dear friend Philip’s
great credit that in the midst of this confusion and
bewilderment for him, Alan has been able to have the care
and support of one who hast stayed with him to the end,
and whose unfailing love and care has never faltered.
Today, in this mass of requiem, we bid a very fond and
affectionate adieu to our much loved and very dear
brother-in-Christ. We give thanks to Almighty God for all
the blessings he bestowed upon our very special friend,
for the cherished memories we shall always have of him and
for the enormous pleasure and joy which has been ours to
have known him.
May he rest in God’s peace and be raised
in his glory.