|
RICHARD Graham
was born in Belfast in 1932. His home was an honest, hard working and
loving working class one. His mother and father had a good marriage
and they were blessed with two sons - Richy and Bobby.
Tragically when
Richard was 9 years of age his father, who was a railwayman, was
killed. The hungry 30's were difficult years to bring up a young
family and they were followed by the long years of the 2nd World War.
Mrs Graham did her
Christian best to bring up her sons and Richard often mentioned the
practical support the family received from the Presbyterian Orphan
Society and church at large.
His mother wisely
built into Richard's life and mind, those Christian truths she
herself held dear and she was delighted when through her sister
Aggie, Richard by the grace of God trusted the Saviour for himself.
Richard's
spiritual home was Richview congregation on the Donegall Road.
Through the faithful ministry in the church, the Sunday School,
Christian Endeavour and Boys' Brigade, Richard's Christian life and
experience grew.
He was greatly
helped also by the work of the Belfast City Mission and at age 12 he
was a zealous young Christian boldly witnessing for his Lord and
Saviour, Jesus.
Richard worked for
a while in the Belfast Shipyard of Harland and Wolff and then in the
then thriving linen trade. All during those formative years the Lord
was working in his life and revealing His plan.
That plan was to
lead Richard into the ministry of the gospel through the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland. He began his studies for the ministry at Magee and
thus began for him a lifelong relationship with this city which he
loved and prayed for. He enjoyed his years of study, and was, as all
who knew him would agree, full of fun. He loved football and from all
accounts he thought he was at Magee just to do that!
A fellow student,
now former moderator, Dr John Girvan, and others provided the lecture
notes and by the grace of God, Richard was successful in the
examinations. He then moved on, as was the practice, to Trinity
College, Dublin, from where he graduated Bachelor in Arts and later
Master in Arts.
He then moved to
Assembly's College, Belfast, where he took most of his theological
studies. With his years of formal education past Richard became the
assistant minister in the Shankill Road Mission with the Rev Andrew
McNabb, a Scot and a fine preacher of the gospel.
He enjoyed those
days on the Shankill and he often laughed as he recalled things that
happened there. In May 1958 Richard Graham was installed as minister
of Claggan and Orritor congregations and in September of that year
the Rev Richard Graham married Marie Kerr who had been his friend for
many years previously.
WORKED
They both worked
hard for the next seven years in Claggan and Orritor before receiving
and accepting the call to Carlisle Road to follow his student friend
of years before, the Rev John Girvan. Richard was minister here for
37 years and from 1974 he was also minister of Crossroads in Co
Donegal. Richard was always a busy minister.
He pastored the
people, he preached the word, and all that he did was done with that
Graham zeal and enthusiasm which we all respected and admired. |
In 1973 he became
Clerk of the Derry Presbytery and he was elected as Clerk of the
newly formed Presbytery of Derry and Strabane at its inception in 1989.
All that he did as
Clerk was well done and for many other Presbytery Clerks he was a
great example. No one ever read the Rule of Faith like him with his
deep rich voice booming out the standards of the church. He was
Moderator of the Synod in 1990. Richard was an evangelical of the
best sort. He loved preaching the gospel of the grace of God. Christ
his Saviour was his first love.
He was deeply
involved in the life of the city as a hospital chaplain and in the
temperance work in the city. In all the bodies he was on he brought
wisdom and good Christian sense. For years he served on the committee
of the Londonderry Presbyterian City Mission.
He was Chairman of
the Carlisle Road Primary School and then was involved also in the
formation of the new Fountain School.
He taught RE in
the Templemore High School for years and was a key member of the
Inner City Trust and the local Churches Trust. Richard was no
armchair Christian.
For him a robust
Christian faith was worked out in the ordinary things of life and he
sought to influence young and old for the gospel he loved.
On the wider
church front Richard was a trustee of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
He was involved in
the government of the church through its courts and boards. For years
he was a valuable member of the Commission for the Union of
Congregations. He loved the Presbyterian Church and all that she
stands for.
All during the
Troubles in this city Richard sought to be 'salt and light'. He loved
this city and all its people and he was hurt to his very soul as he
witnessed the awful events over those dreadful 30 years.
The congregation
here suffered. Numbers fell and there was much discouragement. Steel
gates were erected outside the church. They were difficult years.
Richard would say, "The work must go on."
The Rev Richard
Graham will be remembered as a man of courage, of humour, a man of
the Word of God, a pastor of Christ's flock. He was a great friend to
all who knew him. He listened when we spoke to him. He had a great
humanity about him. In the home, at the Presbytery, in the pulpit, in
his Clerical Club, Richard was always the same.
We got what we
saw. Over the, past weeks as his life slowly ebbed away he spent much
time with his Lord. He loved the writings of the great London Baptist
minister, Charles Hadden Spurgeon. He urged me to spend time with the
Lord alone and I am sure that's one of the things he would say to all
preachers. Ker, his son read the scriptures used at the service to
him the very day he died.
In Carlisle Road
and at Crossroads he faithfully proclaimed the way of life. In Heaven
there are and there will be people from the Donegall Road, the
Shankill Road, Claggan and Orritor, Londonderry and Crossroads who
are there because by the grace of God they trusted in Christ through
the ministry of Richard Graham. He did so much and only eternity will
tell how much.
FUNERAL
This funeral
service was planned by Richard when he was in Jerusalem last year.
Death did not take
him unawares. He lived with it for some years. |
Now he has entered
the Kingdom, his garments are white for they are washed in the blood
of Christ and he has joined the innumerable host of the saints of God
in Heaven, he has seen his Saviour's blessed face and he has heard
"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of
your Lord." I am sure he would say to you: "Do you
have that assurance. If not trust in the Son of God today and have
eternal life through His name."
Richard was a
family man through and through. Marie and he enjoyed a full married
life since 1958, just over 40 years. Living with Richard I am sure
was not always easy, but it was always exciting.
They loved each
other and Marie was a real helpmeet to him in the life and ministry.
Her care for him
over the years was rich and great. Marie, you will miss him so much,
may God give you grace for all the days ahead. You have happy
memories and the assurance that one day at the throne you will meet again.
Ker and Karen,
your Dad thought the world of you. He planned and worked to give you
a happy Christian home. He gave the best he could and I know that you
loved him deeply. He was delighted when Karen married Gary and when
little Keri was born.
He was thrilled
and proud when Ker was ordained to the ministry of the gospel. He
even had plans made without Ker knowing for the cars for Ker's
wedding in August. Ker heard that not from his Dad but from Jack
Glenn with whom the booking was made.
The three of you,
Marie and the family, have no regrets but you have memories which in
the days ahead will sustain you.
Richard would not
let me finish without a text from the word of God. In fact I have two
from the same book, 2 Timothy. Firstly in chapter 2:15, "Do your
best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no
need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." It's a
text for preachers. He would ask us to take that text seriously and
to give ourselves to the study and heralding forth of the truth of
God in the gospel of his grace.
The night that Ker
was licensed for the work of the ministry, Richard was not well but
he said with zeal "Ker, don't rust out, wear out in the service
of the Lord and his church." The other text is in chapter 4:6-8,
"The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the
righteous judge will award me on that day, and not to me only but to
all who have loved His appearing."
Richard could not
say this of himself. We say it with honesty. He finished
the course running. He kept the faith and preached it to the
end. He has received the crown. It was ready for him. He
has received it and he has cast it before the Saviour in worship for
all that Richard Graham was and did by the grace his Lord supplied.
At your end when the Lord calls you, will you receive such a reward?
All those in Christ will and all those out of Christ will be lost forever.
We will all miss
him. His advice, his scoldings, his love. We will just miss him.
Marie, Ker, Karen
we commit you to the God of grace and peace. May He bless you in
every way and make you victorious as you face life without Richard. |
