Canon Alastair Thompson
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of a much loved member of our worshipping community. Alastair Thompson died suddenly on 12 January 2012. Our sympathies and prayers go out to his wife Diane and their family.
The funeral took place at St Giles Church on Wednesday 25 January at 12.30 pm, when over 400 people came to pay their respects to such a remarkable man.
Rev Janice Smith’s letter to the February 2012 St Giles Review:
I had left myself a note of what to write about this month. It said ‘thank everyone who helped at Alpha and let the parish know how Alpha has gone’.
Since I left myself that note there has been a tragedy in our midst in that Alastair Thompson, a much loved and faithful member of our choir and congregation has died very suddenly. Tributes to Alastair will be in a later magazine because of printing deadlines, but I would just like to say that Alastair was nothing but supportive and helpful to me in my ministry here in Bramhope. He was the sound voice of reason and good judgement. And he told some great jokes too! Latterly he had been a major factor in our social committee and came up with the idea for our candlelight dinner in church to celebrate the 130 years of St Giles Church. He wasn’t just an ideas man but a hands on man and having set us off on the dinner, his team (he and Diane!) then set to and made the starter for the dinner – all 114 of them! He was involved in so many aspects of church life here in Bramhope, in the wider church and in the community. He will be sorely missed.
Once the news of his death was made known I was contacted by so many people offering to help and do things to get ready for the funeral service. Our worshipping community here prayed for Alastair and his family, supported them and offered practical help. Our community will be there for Diane and her family for as long as they need it.
A church is just so much more than a service on Sunday mornings – it is a community of people; people who love one another and are there for each other; people who forgive one another and move on when they disagree; people who give practical help as well as spiritual. Alastair epitomised the whole Christian life, he was faithful in worship, a servant to his church and the diocese and one who served his wider community.
So how does this connect with Alpha? It connects because Alpha is a whole church experience; it couldn’t and wouldn’t happen if we did not have people to cook, to serve food, wash up afterwards, to lead groups and be faithful to the one who called us to Follow Him and spread the Good News; so thank you to all those who helped in any way at Alpha.
The Good News for everyone who reads this is that the church is still here a community of people who care, it is an open community which welcomes anyone who wishes to come and worship and follow our Lord Jesus Christ. You will find a spiritual and loving home here.
God Bless you all as we reflect on our loss and move forward on our faith journeys.
Janice