The Anglican Church in Tasmania                                                             Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home      About      Contact us      News      Issues      Parishes      Prayer      Calendar      Youth      Resources

	March 2004				Together forever, the Butler twins Hugh and Harold, who died within three weeks of each other, just short of their 91st birthday.
		Vale - the Butler Twins by Trevor Cowell
			In April 2003, the Tasmanian Anglican carried an article headed 'Priest forever after the order of Melchizedech' about the Butler twins, Hugh and Harold, retired priests living at the time in Longford. Hugh died in December 2003 whilst on a visit to Adelaide and Harold died in January in a Launceston hospital - both just short of their 91st birthday. The death of these two fine priests brought great sadness to the Longford Parish - as it did to other parishes in which both had served over a period of 63 years. In their retirement in Longford both had continued a most telling ministry, especially with regular celebrations of Holy Communion at mid-week services and in their strong support of the congregation at Christ Church, Illawarra. In many ways Hugh and Harold had 'shadowed' one another in their priestly ministry and it is perhaps satisfactory they should have died within three weeks of one another. Together A memorial service to honour both men was held at Christ Church, Longford in January. Congregations they had served were represented, as was the Diocese. For over 60 years they had 'waited patiently on the Lord': now, together, they were called to rejoice together in His presence and to enjoy the glory of the Kingdom about which they had preached to countless thousands over generations. Souls of the righteous, indeed. May the Lord continue to send us such priests.