Panegyric

Remarks by the Rt Rev'd Ambrose Weekes, CB, at Fr Laister's Requiem Mass

12th November, 2002 at the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, London

It is said of a portly Caroline Divine-that is, a Bishop of King Charles II reign-that he heaved himself up into the pulpit, mopped his brow, took a large pinch of snuff and said, "My brethren, we have warm work before us" and went on to preach for an hour and a half.

I will endeavour to be more brief-but not much.

For to speak adequately about the life and ministry of this highly respected, admired and much loved Priest, Pastor and Friend, Father Peter Laister, would take a very long time. I must first tell you, for I think it will be comforting and helpful for you to know that Fr Peter's mortal body, no longer needed by him, lies dressed in full Mass vestments before the very altar where he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass so often. It is almost as if he is participating in this Requiem. But the truth is, as we must all be sure, that, in Christ, he is made alive in the Church Triumphant. Sadness for us is turned into joy.

Peter-not yet Father-was born on 12th May 1927 to Thomas and Gladys Laister. Tom was their first born, Peter next and then John, who with his wife Edna is here to-day. We support you both with our love and prayers. At his baptism at S. Michael's, Highgate Village, he was given the one Christian name-that of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. So, perhaps, it was there, at the Font, he was destined to become a Priest. A fellow schoolboy, Derek, told me over the phone that he and Peter learned their catechism (by heart, of course) at S. Michael's Church School, and Peter also sang in the church choir. So Christian instruction soon followed Christian Baptism and upbringing-another sign of the future? Derek found him quiet and a good companion with striking good looks and blond hair.

When the war began in 1939, Peter was twelve and at some point he became a fire-watcher on the roof of S. Paul's Cathedral-the youngest one of that valiant band. Louis Louis, his long-time friend and executor says he was always very proud of that achievement!

After the war, Louis told me that the two of them became altar servers at S. Paul's, Camden Square. By then Peter had begun already his strict keeping of High Church practices such as receiving Holy Communion at an early Mass, and fasting from food and liquid from midnight before. One early morning, serving together, Louis felt faint-and fainted! "But, " said Louis, "to complete a movement in the Sanctuary, Peter just stepped over me as if nothing had happened. I recovered but afterwards he told me, 'You shouldn't be so silly as to faint.'" Perhaps that explains Peter's lifelong dignity and decorum in the sanctuary.

After he left school, Peter went into journalism and was involved in the production of a weekly called "Reynolds News," and also in articles for "The Carpenter and Builder"-can you believe it! But, here began, in his spare time, a developing interest in the stage. He joined a company called "The Fleet Street Players" and acted at the King George's Hall in the London YMCA. Not much dignity there, surely.

Church life with Louis continued, of course, and so his vocation to the Priesthood opened and his personal devotion and spiritual life as well.

However, all this was interrupted by a 'call up' for National Service and Peter joined the Royal Navy (of course!). He began his training to become a writer in the Secretarial branch at a Stone Frigate, HMS Demetrius, at Wetherby in Yorkshire. He was there for initial training from September to December 1945. His first Draft (as we call it in Naval parlance) was to the staff of the Base Supply Office in Malta. It was there that he met up with another writer named Arthur Nunnerly-the priest in the sanctuary who read the first lesson.

I have Peter's Naval Record here, which reads (in part): "He worked well and conscientiously, was dependable and has good common sense. A future leader…" And so on.

Later, in the Royal Naval Reserve it reads: "Should in due course make a good Petty Officer Writer." He never was but both he and Arthur were promoted to Leading Writer while in Malta.

Out of working hours Arthur and Peter got involved in Concert Party activities, and Arthur told me that they toured the island (Malta) with an awful ENSA-type show-but it was well received. (Most ENSA shows were awful. I know!)

Both were altar servers at S. Paul's Anglican Cathedral-and here is a photograph to prove it. For both of them, progress toward the Priesthood.

After National Service they parted and Peter went back to journalism. In due time a co-incidence occurred when both he and Arthur were accepted for ordination and met at S. David's Theological College at Lampeter in Wales. And, there was a student already at Lampeter, one Noel Jones. The same Noel Jones sitting up there now-the Bishop of Sodor and Man, no less. That made a "Gang-of-Three" and another joined them, one Ken Guppy. Oh, yes! One other, not in the group-George Austin, until recently Canon of the Minster and Archdeacon of York-who gets himself into the papers now and then! (I hope you are not here to hear that, George!)

At Lampeter the stage took over again and Arthur and Peter with most of the college involved produced "Pantomania", a spoof version of Cinderella. Here is the programme: Script written by-guess who-Peter Laister and Arthur Nunnerly. Produced by-guess who-Peter Laister and Arthur Nunnerly. In the big cast were two Ugly Sisters, of course. One "Heather"-Peter Laister. And the other Ugly Sister "Tulip"-Arthur Nunnerly.

Dignity and decorum, my foot! They even got their photographs inside!

Ken Guppy was "Yum Yum." Now that doesn't figure-a bit down market perhaps, for a future Bishop-perhaps he was back-stage.

In spite of all this very secular activity at Lampeter they must have worked at Theology for all were granted their BA degrees. They went their various ways to come together to-day to honour Father Peter by their presence.

So Peter went to the Church of the Ascension, Victoria Docks, down the River Thames. His parish priest, Fr Wade was with me at King's Lynn. So it was here at "the Docks" that Peter's priestly training and pastoral skill began its remarkable development. It was a happy first curacy, we know.

[Looking at another possible curacy in a 1950s London Anglo-Catholic parish Fr Laister saw a church full of families at High Mass. When before the people's Communion the priest held up the Host and said "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him that taketh away the sins of the world" a little girl turned to Father and said, "He did, you know" and he realised there was nothing more he could teach these people.]

In 1960-by collusion or by coincidence, maybe both, Peter and Arthur joined as chaplains, Royal Navy with the Honourary Rank of Lieutenant Commander. A quick rise from Leading Writer. Arthur went to HMS Belfast-the same Belfast moored above Tower Bridge. Peter came to me at HMS Ganges, a New Entry Boys Training Establishment near Ipswich in Suffolk with-at that time around 2500 youngsters of 15+, to be my No. 2.

Peter was absolutely marvellous with these boys. We had huge Confirmation classes, teaching the Faith; Religious Instruction in school, too, once a week, visiting Mess decks and sick quarters. All his priestly gifts were exercised. I personally learned much from him-my assistant! What Real Priestcraft is all about. Lampeter had taught the Ordinands much; for Peter, time at S. Stephen's House at Oxford next under Canon Couratin (of blessed memory) had "put the cream on the cake."

I would have liked to tell you about the time Peter caught measles just before leave. The boys all went on leave and left him in the sick quarters and so he missed a chuck of leave. And of his sermon to nearly 2000 boys on first Sunday of term and how he began it…but it would take too long. His sermons were always so good.

Also, I learned from him the art of Conduct of Self-Examination in the Chapel before Confession-of "Sin Lists" and a waste paper basket for burning the "Sin Lists"-it was hilarious but so gifted. I could tell you so much about this but time presses.

From Ganges, Peter went to the Far East to join HMS Hartland Point and we met often in Singapore.

Next he went to HMS Raleigh at Tapoint in Cornwall. From there he left the Royal Navy and after a time at the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, there began the THREE REALLY SIGNIFICANT, remarkable and fruitful ministries.

In 1966 Peter became Chaplain of the Middlesex Hospital, and Father Kenneth Ross, Vicar of All Saints, Margaret Street promptly collared him to hear the confessions of the Boy Choristers. So every week, on Wednesdays, he would do this (Fr Kenneth knew of his expertise) and Fr Peter did this for twenty years.

The present Master of Charterhouse, here with some of the brothers, was a Houseman at the Middlesex then and will testify to Peter's gifts as Priest to the patients and the staff. Dr Thomson also persuaded him to join the staff of S. Mark's Hospital where he was a surgeon.

But after only four years, out of the blue, he became vicar of this fine Italianate church. How? Well, his predecessor, Father Chamberlin made it plain to the Trustees and City Corporation-no ifs or buts-that Fr Laister was to be his successor-and so he was.

It was from around this time at the Middlesex that Peter really transferred from amateur dramatics to a devotion to opera. After all, Sadler's Wells was only up the road (and he and the famous Father Knight were often behind the stage there). And the Colosseum Opera a bus ride away. He was often, when on leave, in opera houses with friends all over Europe.

But here it goes again! Having won the hearts of his people in this parish-and saved many souls or guided them toward heaven, another bolt came out of the blue. A letter arrived through the Clergy House letterbox. It came from America, from a city called Philadelphia and the Search Committee of S. Clement's Church. It said (and this is my version), "We want a new Rector: come to see us." Full stop. After consulting the bishop about this unknown place, he went, listened and came back. Almost by the next post came another letter. "You are coming." Full stop. So he went. After all, as an ex-Navy man, he recognised an order. He no doubt consulted the Scripture about "Come and He Cometh."

So began the last and very remarkable and outstanding work as Priest, Pastor and Friend as you from S. Clement's know only too well. By the way-thank you for coming all this way, but I also know why, why too well.

S. Clement's, a city church is a vast and impressive building; splendidly furnished for full expression of Anglo Catholic worship; glorious and majestic ceremonial led by a fine band of altar servers; a marvellous choir and often orchestra; and the liturgical year presented in all its fullness-like an opera. If it were an opera the programme would read, "Libretto by Cranmer, music by Mozart, choreography by Fortescue." But truly a House of prayer to give the Lord the Honour that is His due.

Fr Peter's influence there was IN-CAL-CUL-ABLE. They saw in him a man of true holiness of life, rooted in regular and disciplined prayer; a priest of sincerity of spirit and spiritual discernment; a wise confessor; a friend to all in every walk of life who really loved them all. It was truly an outstanding ministry of love of God and love of his flock.

At first his natural priestly decorum and reserve with the congregation was surprised by the American more tactile and effusive approach-embracing and bear hugs. But he soon relaxed into it and bear hugged with the rest even with some ladies. But not in church. Oh no. The Kiss of Peace with the Sacred Ministers in the sanctuary at High Mass was very decorous. A delightful lady of this congregation [Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell], here today, told me last evening that she was having a conversation about the afterlife with Father and he said, "I am looking forward to Heaven: no women there."

My vision is that if the Vestry of S. Clement's (what we call the Church Council) had the power of Canonisation they would, by now, be starting the process. But, they do not have the power. Instead, they commissioned a full-length portrait in oil of the revered Peter Laister in a fine S. Clement's cope; and the painting hangs in the Church Hall. Later they added a plaque extolling his gifts and influence. I suspect that soon, if not already, there will be two tall candlesticks each side-and maybe a prayer desk…! Beatification if not Canonisation! Further, the Vestry elected him Rector Emeritus and an inscribed document framed to prove it. Wow!-as the Americans say.

A word about Fr Peter's work of spiritual Direction. In England, for many years he was an experienced and much sought after Conductor of Retreats and Quiet Days, frequently going to Stacklands Retreat House near Seven Oaks in Kent. Fr Guppy was involved in the long and complicated Ignatian Retreats.

In America he delighted to go to the All Saints Nuns at Catonsville, Maryland, for Retreats. They loved him. They still wear the traditional black habit to the ankles, the while coif and wimple over head and under the chin. "Proper Nuns," he would say.

In due course the time came to leave. On leaving S. Clement's he went to live in one of the cottages belonging to the Diocese of London-No. 6 Bishop's Close. Father Roy Bence in No. 5, and I was for a while in No. 4.

He became closely involved in the worship and life of Holy Trinity, Hoxton, where Father Iain Young was helped there by these two Bishop's Close priests and so much appreciated by the parish and people. Here a fine card of support when Fr Peter became ill. After an apparent getting better from the cancer treatment he went to Philadelphia and elsewhere, but it took its toll, and he came back very ill indeed. Dr Thomson saved his life by putting him into S. Luke's Hospital. Next he made him a Brother of Charterhouse where Peter, though sick, was much appreciated for his gentleness, humour, intelligence, and strength of character.

After a while he could do no more to hold on to this mortal sphere. So there we are…

The life, priesthood and fame of Father Peter Laister; truly a Man of God and His priest for the people.

How the Lord God must love him for all he was and is; surely rewarding him for being this Priest Extra-Ordinary. Amen.

"Changed from Glory into Glory
'Till in Heaven we take our place.
Till we cast our crowns before him
Lost in wonder, love and praise."

For him a jewelled crown, I believe!

Home

Since August 2004

Jesu, mercy; Mary, pray