OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 14 June 1939, Page 6

OBITUARY

REV. HERBERT THOMAS YORK ASSOCIATION WITH CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL j After 41 years in Holy Orders and 29 years as Vicar of St. Peter’s church j Riccarton. the Rev. Herbert York was called to his eternal rest while he slept I during the night following Ascension Day (states the "Church News”) As it was recorded of Moses so of Mr York , in his 76th year it could be said that "his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.’’ He appeared to have the gift of perennial youth; childless himself, he loved youth and led the feet of many to the path that leads to righteousness and to everlasting life. As a parish priest he was diligent, painstaking, filled with that passion for souls which is the true mark of the , minister of the Saviour of mankind. Born in Nelson, one of a family of 13, and ordained Deacon in 1898 from Bishopdale College, he went to St. Peter's Christchurch in 1910. after serving qt Westport as curate and Reefton as vicar (for 6 years) and Methven (two years). He entered upon his duties with an enthusiasm that never flagged and as population increased in his par- [ ish. his zeal grew with it. One of his first efforts was directed to clearing the parish of its rather large debt. That vanquished, he set about accumulating a fund for the completion of the church j in stone. But he was determined that j the church should be built only when the cost of it was in hand. At last the £SOOO required assured, a tender was accepted for the west end of the tower, j A curious feature was that as the new I building was larger than the wooden j one it was to replace, it was built over the old one. the congregation worshipping in the old building almost to the i I last. In 1929 Bishop West-Watson conj sccrated the completed building. Today Herbert York lies in a grave near the Vestry, the spot chosen so that he : might lie near the path he trod daily for so long and facing the church he loved so deeply. It is not given to many overseas clergy to be buried amidst his parishioners of past years, alongside the beautiful church lie has built.

Herbert York’s lasting visible memorial will to the west-end of St. Peter's, but in this generation he will have his memorial in the young people grown to manhood and womanhood whom he and his wife (who was one with him in the love they bore for the parish as with one another) had educated in the Faith, some of them to become priests in the Church, others to be leaders in the Bible Class movement, all to love Rnd to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in their several vocations. And there are many who will cherish with affection Mr York's singular gift of spiritual healing. He was a doctor of souls To many he was God's means of bringing physical healing, sometimes remarkably: and to the sick he brought at all times an inward healing even more precious. At the time of his call to the life beyond. Mr York was chairman of the Diocesan Youth Work Council and also leader of the Divine Healing Fellowship The circumstances of his death were unusual. He has been a robust mar gifted with vigorous health and despite his years active and undistressed by age. He and his wife had been out to dinner on Ascension Day evening and returning he retired to rest in apparently perfect health. For some time after retiring he happily conversed with his wife on the day's happenings. His soul passed while his body slept. Thp funeral took place on Sunday afternoon. The clergy and the choir, all robed, preceded the casket, borne by representatives of the vestry and the Bible classes, from the vicarage to the church, where the 23rd Psalm was sung, a Lesson from the Revelation was read by Canon Bean, prayers were said by Dean Julius, and one of Mr York’s favourite hymns “New' every morning is the love” was sung. The Bishop and the Rev. E. Osmers read the prayers at the graveside, and another favourite hymn of Mr York's. "Abide with me” was tung. The grave was lined with a mass of Rowers by the Mothers’ ( Union. A large number of the clergy attended the ceremony and the parish- j ioners and others crowded the churchyard and filled the church. A very large number of simple bunches of flowers (in bunches only, by request) was laid on the grave by friends

The Standing Committee of the Diocese. as the first body to meet alter Mr York’s passing, placed on record its appreciation of Mr York’s long ministry and the sympathy of all with Mrs York in her bereavement.