Peter Ruffle (priest) R.I.P.

Peter Cousins Ruffle R.I.P. (1919-2009)

Funeral Homily at St Martin-on-the-hill, Scarborough

Friday 9^th October 2009

NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE

The gospels tell us that Peter, disciple and apostle, was called to follow Jesus ‘not once, but twice’, both times at the seaside. In the opening chapter of Mark’s gospel Jesus calls “Come after me, and I will make you to become a fisher of men” (Mark 1.17). In the concluding chapter of John’s gospel Jesus challenges “Follow me, signifying by what manner of death Peter should glorify God” (John 21.19).

I came to know Ann and Chris when we were colleagues in the Bradford Diocese. Ann and I worked together at Bradford Marriage Guidance Council. Today Alastair serves in the parish where I was a Team Vicar. It was back then in the late 80’s and early 90’s that Peter Ruffle first came on to the screen of my consciousness.

It was a surprise, and a delight, when Peter came to join us at Dulverton Hall on 3^rd April 2003 and I have been privileged to get to know him personally since then as a brother priest and a friend. It has been a period during which his first call from the Lord to ‘follow Him’ has merged into the second to journey with Him through age and infirmity, suffering and death.

Peter’s adventure in discipleship and ministry is summarised on today’s Order of Service sheet and that will provide the focus for much thankful remembrance at the service to be held next Friday at Lee-on-Solent.

In John chapter 21 our Lord’s second call to the apostle Peter comes between the resurrection and the ascension. Peter has just been restored in the love of Jesus, following his threefold denial at the crucifixion. Peter is challenged to demonstrate his response by his ministry to Christ’s flock. Then our Lord goes on to spell out Peter’s future: “When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird theee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me”.

When our Peter came to Dulverton Hall he was still active in ministry and quite mobile with the help of his old motor car that had seen better days. He worshipped regularly here at St Martin and got about doing duty in a variety of local parishes where he affectionately remembered. Our table in the Dulverton dining room was frequently enriched when Peter invited his new friends to a meal, as well as family members and friends from former years. He had a disciplined private ministry of caring intercession for very many including fellow residents at Dulverton where he presided and preached in the chapel. At different times he was our chairman and our vice chairman. He served on many committees and supported a number of groups. He was rarely seen without a book that he was reading, either before services in chapel or sat outside in the fresh air. As long as his car lasted it was generously available for hospital visits and afternoons out or whatever. He could always be relied on to turn up at formal dinners with his notorious joke book from which he would extract a selection as part of after dinner entertainment.

We looked on with increasing concern as his body began to fail him and he had to cope with increasing pain. His active ministry became morphed in a more passive one as he travelled the road to the end. It was a privilege to minister to him in his room and in hospital. He made it abundantly clear that a Dulverton blessing was something special amid all the other ministries of his final days.

Peter lived for just short of 90 years. He was a priest for just over 65 years. Today we give sincere thanks to Almighty God for Peter Cousins Ruffle, a gracious and kindly son of the gospel and a brother in Christ. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

P.A.