W B
Harris – This your life – Part Five
Tributes
Paid
to Rev Walter B Harris, on the occasion of his retirement from Coleford, July
1975
After all the eulogies, what can I
say, as secretary, about Walter Harris, M.Th., and master of a good many other
virtues. No secretary has ever had a better minister to work with - one who has
not only undertaken all the varied duties which fall to the lot of a Christian
ministry with a charm and grace born of an infinite wisdom and love of people
under his care, but one who has always shown sound judgement and given good
advice in connection with any issue arising, whether concerning spiritual or
practical difficulties.
I have never found him ruffled, have
never heard him raise his voice in anger, never lose his temper - in fact he
has been the very opposite - a reconciling and calming influence on those of us
who tend to let our emotions rule our hearts and tongues. What an example he
has been to us over the years and how greatly we have grown to love and respect
him - and how well he radiates the quiet trust in God's purpose and God's love
which is in his heart. What kind of a Church would we be, if we were all like
him!!
One of the traits that to my mind,
shines out above all others is his humility - and I mean this in the highest
sense - a great Christian virtue - he never professes to know more than others,
but one soon learns, by listening to him, what richness and wealth of knowledge
and experience lie beneath that calm and quiet demeanour and one becomes
humbled oneself.
And so one could go on extolling his
virtues and assuring him, as though he didn't know it, of the affection, and
regard we have for him and of our gratitude for a wonderful ministry, but let
me, least of all, be not guilty of speaking for too long.
I must, though, say a word about
Mrs. Harris, who has been such a wonderful partner to him over the years in
family and Church life, and I cannot let the opportunity pass to remind her
that she can look back with joy and happiness to that "lead me to the
altar, Walter" occasion which has been recalled earlier this evening.
I have the privilege, Mr. Harris, of
presenting you first of all with this token present[1]
and in addition, with this cheque which comes to you with all our love and good
wishes to you and to your wife, for happy memories of Coleford and
a long and happy semi- and full retirement in whatever sphere of service or of
leisure the future may bring.
John
Horwood
With the retirement of the Rev. W.
Harris, not only is the Baptist Church losing a greatly loved, minister, but
Coleford is losing a real pastor and friend. His genuine interest in the town
and its people of all denominations - and none - has commended him as a true
man of God whose absolute integrity .and sincerity has enabled many to know the
presence of Christ with them.
His quiet, unassuming manner has
broken down many barriers and smoothly paved the way for such happy united
worship between our Churches in recent years.
We will miss his friendly wave and
his wife's cheerful face in the town and everyone at St. John's joins me in
wishing them every blessing and real happiness in their retirement.
Christopher
J. H. Wagstaff
(Vicar
of St. John's, Coleford)
It is a great privilege to write a
few words in appreciation of the ministry given by the Reverend Harris to the
Coleford Baptist Church, and to the District, over the past thirteen years.
During that period, both Mr, and Mrs. Harris have given of their best, and one
can say with sincerity that both the community of Baptists, and that larger
community outside, have benefitted by their sojourn in the Forest in ways too
numerous to list.
As a Minister Mr, Harris has carried
on many of those high traditions established by previous Ministers, and has
himself added to them. Under his Ministry Coleford Baptist Church has continued
to be a beacon light to the Forest in general, and to Coleford in particular. I
think it is fair and just to say of both Mr. and Mrs. Harris, as was said of
the Master whom we serve, 'they went about doing good’. There can be no higher
praise.
Miss
Joan Davies,
Vice-Chairman
of Forest of Dean District Council
and
also, of course, member of our Church.
18.
7. 75
We are indeed sorry not to be at the
presentation to the Reverend and Mrs. Harris at Coleford,
on July 30th. I am on holiday in Scotland and so it is impossible.
Also, our Minister, Mr. Chambers, is on holiday too with all his family.
I should like to say what a really
great blessing Mr. and Mrs. Harris have always been to me. I remember so well when they came and as I
look back over the years I feel they have done a great deal for our town. Their co-operation and help have always
been there in time of need, and the many, many, that they have supported and
been a blessing to will one day rise up and call them blessed I am sure.
May I specially mention the work of
the Sunday School Union and the Reverend Harris's help in this direction. He has attended practically every meeting
and has been such a strength and support to the Committee.
The Women's World Day of Prayer -
this from Mrs. Harris's point of view.
I don't think perhaps there would be a Women's World Day of Prayer in
Coleford if it had not been for Mrs. Harris.
She has carried through the project and supported it nobly. Thank you, Mrs. Harris.
We have also appreciated their
kindness and interest in those outside their own Church. Their big hearts have always been a real
inspiration.
We shall remember you both with joy.
July 15 1975
On behalf of members and friends
of the Rev. Walter Harris in the United Reformed Church, it is indeed a
privilege for me to have the opportunity of recording our appreciation of the
invaluable work and service he has so freely given to our Church over the past
years. We remember with pleasure and gratitude his spiritual leadership,
particularly during our Joint Fellowship, whilst we know he has been a friend
and confidant of many throughout his long ministry. Many are the young couples
he has sent out on life’s journey with joy in their hearts, while in times of
sorrow when all seems lost with the death of a loved one, Mr. Harris has, by
his very presence, reverence and quiet dignity been a source of comfort to
those left behind. Thomas Carlyle wrote “Blessed is he who finds his work; let
him ask no other blessedness”. How true of the Rev. Harris who is such a pillar
in the preservation of our Sunday worship, for surely the longer we live the
more highly do we estimate the Christian Sabbath and equally the more grateful
should we be to those who, like him, impress its importance on the community in
which we live.
And so, we Congregationalists will always remember the readiness of Mr.
Harris to help us in any way possible, but while regretting in some ways his
call to pastures new, we join all his members & friends in the District in
wishing him, together with Mrs. Harris and his family, God’s blessing and every
happiness in his new Fellowship.
Sincerely
yours,
Clifford
R. Dowle
Hon.
Sec. U.R.C.
FOREST OF DEAN METHODIST CIRCUIT
TEL.
COLEFORD 3247. 7
WOODGATE ROAD.
MILE
END.
COLEFORD.
REV. RAYMOND G. MORRIS,
B.A., B.D., GLOS.
SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER. GL16
7QE
APPRECIATION.
It is a pleasure to pay tribute to the Revd.
WALTER B. HARRIS as he retires from what we, in the Methodist Church, call 'the
active work'; knowing full well that he will want to preach and. exercise
pastoral functions, at least to some extent, as long as he is able.
I have come into contact with Mr.
Harris most in the meetings of the Free Church Ministers' Fraternal of the
Forest of Dean and annually at Christmas when Christians from all churches have
joined in singing carols at the Clock Tower. He has been the driving force
behind both aspects of our united life as Christians, as, I am sure, he has
been in many many other things.
His thoroughness and punctiliousness
have always impressed me. Although he gives careful attention to detail he does
so in a quiet unassuming way. His gracious humility is transparently obvious to
all. He is greatest in his gentleness. He has set an example to the Forest of
Dean in two things which many of us could do well to follow – punctuality and
ecumenicity. He is a man of great missionary zeal and a man of foresight.
Others will no doubt speak of his friendliness. To sum up - he is a man of God,
My wife has been able to co-operate
with Mrs. Harris more than my duties have allowed me to work with her husband.
She asks me to pay tribute to her enthusiasm and spirituality as it has been
seen in connection with the annual Women's World Day of Prayer. Her efficiency
and persuasive enthusiasm in all such matters have shown her also to be one in
whom the Spirit of Christ dwells richly by faith.
May both continue in grace, love and
fellowship and know the peace which passes understanding,
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
Forest
of Dean Meeting
Members of the Society of Friends in
Coleford would like to express their appreciation of the service the Rev and
Mrs Harris have given to the community here, and in particular of the friendly
cooperation the Rev Harris has shown while our Meetings have been held on the
Baptist Church premises.
Richard Brockbank
Clerk to the meeting
The Forest of Dean Branch of
the United Nations' Association are happy to join with you in paying tribute to
Rev. W.B. and Mrs. Harris.
We are sorry they are leaving
Coleford. We have become aware of the gap they will Ieave in our community.
For a number of years Mr. Harris has been a wise and sympathetic
chairman of our Branch. We are grateful
for his quiet leadership, and for the support given to us by Mrs. Harris and
members of this congregation. We are glad to be able here in his church to
thank him for his work for peace and reconciliation. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Harris a very happy future.
Following these tributes, the
Coleford church added a copy of the most recent newsletter (The Coleford
Baptist Newsletter), and there followed the signatures of many members and
friends – 144 individuals or couples/families.
Return to cover page of
“This is your life”.