Remembering Lilian

When Lillian at the age of 93 asked Stewart, my predecessor as vicar of St James, if he would take her funeral, he wasn't expecting that it would not be for another eight years - but in the plan of God it was. So today we had the joy of welcoming Stewart and Rosemary back to Bermondsey as we bade farewell to a remarkable lady.

Lil was  101 years old and a life long resident of Bermondsey.

From the age of 4 she was a member of the Gedling Mission in Bermondsey. She met her husband there and she continued a faithful member of that congregation until the mission closed a few years ago.

She remained a firm, clear, joyful Christian until the day she died.

Today we gave thanks for her life in St James's Church, where her husband's funeral had taken place, and where she was a regular member of our monthly Monday Fellowship.

Stewart & Rosemary Hartley back today at St James

Lillian, and Ernie, were a living embodiment of the verse that urges us to 'give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.'

They did it to the very end of their long lives.

Now they are both with the Lord they loved and we thank God for every remembrance of them.