A Requiem Eucharist and Thanksgiving for the life of Herbert Calvert was held yesterday, 9th November 2016, in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.  Herbert, who died in the care of Saint Luke’s Home, Cork on Wednesday, 2nd November, served the Church of Ireland faithfully as a Diocesan Lay Reader since he was first licensed in the Diocese of Elphin on 2nd September 1962.

The late Herbert Calvert pictured here with his daughter, Felicity, earlier this year.

The family moved to Cork in 1970 and Herbert continued as a Diocesan Lay Reader ever since in Cork, Cloyne and Ross and was affectionately regarded by his Lay Reader colleagues as the ‘senior lay reader’ in the Diocese.  He must surely have been one of the longest serving Diocesan Readers in the Church of Ireland.

Warm tributes were paid to Herbert’s life of service in scouting, in the wider community and within the Church of Ireland.  The Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, presided at the Requiem assisted by the Reverend Edwin Hunter, and the sermon was preached by the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.  Also taking part were the Reverend Ted Ardis, Canon Ian Jonas from Carrigrohane Union of Parishes, and a representative group of Lay Readers from the Diocese.

Bishop Colton said:

As a Diocese we remember Herbert with affection and give thanks for his 54 years of ministry in the Church of Ireland, particularly here in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.  We remember too his late wife Heather at this time and, on behalf of us all, I extend our deepest sympathy to their children Jonathan, Marcus, Felicity, Timothy and their families, as well as Herbert’s wide circle of friends.