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Tasmanian Anglican

February 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obituary

David Nairn Thorp

28 January 1951 - 26 December 2003

 

 

The death of David Thorp on the feast day of St Stephen has caused great sadness amongst his many friends and in the Anglican Church.

David was a Cathedral chorister and became Head Boy. He was a Lay Reader and involved with grace and dignity in the Cathedral's liturgical life, as he was at All Saints', South Hobart. He filled the position of Bishop's Server with consummate ease, and enriched so much of our worship. The singing of the Passion on Good Friday will be lessened without him. His ministry as a Liturgical Assistant at the Cathedral was always conducted in an exemplary way.

David was for some time a director of Anglican Superannuation Australia. David succeeded his father to the post of Church Advocate, legal advisor to the Synod and, therefore, to the Diocesan Council. David was also responsible for the conveyancing of church property and other legal matters relating to that. This in recent years, especially, has been a demanding task. In this respect David served us well.

Together with two life-long friends David founded the Monarchist Society in student days. Whether this was entirely motivated by undying loyalty to Ma'am of Windsor or the side benefits of a university grant I don't really know! David's main objective in life was 'to help people' and his major joys were music, history and the Anglican Church.

Day after day, David came into the Cathedral and spent reflective time at the Chapel of Hope, lighting a candle and often leaving a request for prayer. To use words we have heard from Isaiah 40:31, he 'waited for the Lord' and in his contemplative and worshipping life 'renewed his strength.'

Whilst these all form part of David Thorp, the essential David was more, and expressed in the Cathedral notice which appeared in the press:

Gentle, faithful, devoted servant.

David is remembered with love and thankfulness by the people of St David's Cathedral whose stones and spaces he has prayed into holiness.

Our dear David, gentleman, and gentle man: well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.

Stuart Blackler