He came from a sturdy generation, didn't he? That was all to our benefit here.
I knew Fr. James as a school girl at Bishop's College and then as a member of the congregation at St. Paul's Milagiriya where he served as the second clergyman after retirement because it was a large congregation and needed two priests. Humble man that he was, he occupied the curate's quarters and put his books in the garage because there was no other place for them. He had a condition of the eyes that meant deterioration of his sight over time. I saw him using a notebook instead of a prayer book at mass and turning pages rapidly, implying large letters, so I asked him one day, when I saw him sitting with his books in the garage of the curate's quarters. There was no self pity in his presentation of the information.
He thought very highly of my parents, Melville and Shelagh Fernando, which I appreciated very much, given the extent of the nastinesses that Mum and Dad had to cope with. He recognised worth but never imposed. He never took advantage of anyone. He was never mean or nasty to anyone. He would reprimand when necessary but always with grace and dignity that preserve the dignity of the one being reprimanded. That's what made him such a role model, such an inspiration.
He even burst with pride over Jayadeva's initiation of the organ at Scott's Kirk with grace and dignity. We were there, Mum, Dad and I, when Jayadeva inaugurated the pipe at Scott's Kirk with the kind of performance I would have expected to have in Colombo only on Dad's records. Jayadeva can make the ridiculous toys that we are obliged to use in churches here sing, such is his gifting. But this pipe, the most complex and efficient machine in the country at the time, was almost worthy of Jayadeva's ability. There were people who didn't sing when opportunity presented itself just so they could simply listen to the organist working beauty and majesty that evening. And Fr. James was so proud of Jayadeva. He fairly ran across the paving at the end of the concert and flung his arms around him and held him and held him and held him. Such a simple, profound gesture. He did everything with grace and dignity.
And what he knew! As much as we learned from him, there was always a whole library more to go! But it never occurred to him that he was an authority on all things Anglican - he just took it for granted that he was to dispense information and guidance wherever relevant or necessary.
One day, I introduced him to someone as "one of the very few Anglican priests I really respect." He immediately laughed that off with, "And now you can ask Sandra how much I paid her to say that!" He paid for my regard with his character, personality and graciousness. No one was beneath his care. I wonder how large his reception committee was over yonder?
Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,
Who lent us such a man whose memory rejoices
The ones who follow on, blessed much upon our way
With countless thoughts of his love till we meet him one sweet day.
Sandra Fernando
He came from a sturdy generation, didn't he? That was all to our benefit here.
I knew Fr. James as a school girl at Bishop's College and then as a member of the congregation at St. Paul's Milagiriya where he served as the second clergyman after retirement because it was a large congregation and needed two priests. Humble man that he was, he occupied the curate's quarters and put his books in the garage because there was no other place for them. He had a condition of the eyes that meant deterioration of his sight over time. I saw him using a notebook instead of a prayer book at mass and turning pages rapidly, implying large letters, so I asked him one day, when I saw him sitting with his books in the garage of the curate's quarters. There was no self pity in his presentation of the information.
He thought very highly of my parents, Melville and Shelagh Fernando, which I appreciated very much, given the extent of the nastinesses that Mum and Dad had to cope with. He recognised worth but never imposed. He never took advantage of anyone. He was never mean or nasty to anyone. He would reprimand when necessary but always with grace and dignity that preserve the dignity of the one being reprimanded. That's what made him such a role model, such an inspiration.
He even burst with pride over Jayadeva's initiation of the organ at Scott's Kirk with grace and dignity. We were there, Mum, Dad and I, when Jayadeva inaugurated the pipe at Scott's Kirk with the kind of performance I would have expected to have in Colombo only on Dad's records. Jayadeva can make the ridiculous toys that we are obliged to use in churches here sing, such is his gifting. But this pipe, the most complex and efficient machine in the country at the time, was almost worthy of Jayadeva's ability. There were people who didn't sing when opportunity presented itself just so they could simply listen to the organist working beauty and majesty that evening. And Fr. James was so proud of Jayadeva. He fairly ran across the paving at the end of the concert and flung his arms around him and held him and held him and held him. Such a simple, profound gesture. He did everything with grace and dignity.
And what he knew! As much as we learned from him, there was always a whole library more to go! But it never occurred to him that he was an authority on all things Anglican - he just took it for granted that he was to dispense information and guidance wherever relevant or necessary.
One day, I introduced him to someone as "one of the very few Anglican priests I really respect." He immediately laughed that off with, "And now you can ask Sandra how much I paid her to say that!" He paid for my regard with his character, personality and graciousness. No one was beneath his care. I wonder how large his reception committee was over yonder?
Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,
Who lent us such a man whose memory rejoices
The ones who follow on, blessed much upon our way
With countless thoughts of his love till we meet him one sweet day.
Sandra Fernando
