The Very Reverend Brian Harvey BD 1916-2005

Funeral address by the Most Revd Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin

St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny 30 th January 2005  

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching” (2 Timothy 4: 1,2)

 

These words of an apostolic charge to a presbyter or priest in the early Church are recorded in the second letter to Timothy. They reflect a sense of the powerful presence of God, the God to be honoured and served with all obedience and dedication. They speak of a message to be proclaimed without fear or favour with persistence – realising where rebuke is necessary and where people must be convinced. But they speak too of a warmer task – encouragement, and that lovely phrase “the utmost patience in teaching”. These words reflect a pattern for the ministry of the Christian Priest – maybe not always the criteria that appear on the agenda of many a Board of Nomination (!)– Nevertheless a pattern of ministry so characteristic of Peter Harvey whom today we lay to rest.

Those closest to Brian Harvey always called him “Peter” as did his family. I was privileged when I came as his curate to Kilkenny almost thirty-five years ago to be included in that inner circle. Yet that closeness never obscured the fact that as well as being a colleague, I was the pupil and he the teacher, often a hard thing to learn for a young priest. But somehow for this very reason, I discovered Peter, the teacher of the Faith. What was more, this very humble teacher challenged the arrogance that can prevent any real learning. And so it is indeed as Pastor and Priest that I think of Peter, but especially as the most splendid of teachers.

Peter always saw potential in people, and as our text reminds us of the real teacher – he encouraged people, and he showed this utmost patience. To some, it was sharing his beloved gift of music, drawing out their own undiscovered talents, for others it was the coaching on the Rugby field arising out of his own prowess as onetime captain of Wanderers, capped for Leinster . For students in India, some fifty years ago or more, it was opening up for them the intricacies of philosophy – but at all times for the people to whom he ministered, it was a teaching about prayer, about spirituality, about living the Gospel of forgiveness, and understanding more of God both in revelation and in his hiddeness. Peter taught through simple example as much as through drama and liturgy.

The son of a rectory, Peter was born in Portrush where his father, much later to be Bishop of Cashel was rector. He grew up in Blackrock. He was an all rounder – an excellent sportsman – Rugby , Irish Hurdling Champion, and athletics in general. He also excelled in his studies, being elected a foundation scholar of Trinity and obtaining a first class moderatorship, followed quickly by a Theological Exhibition and the degree of Bachelor in Divinity. There was even in those days, as my late father who was his contemporary often told me, a seriousness and austerity linked with an almost wicked sense of humour!

Ordained almost sixty-five years ago in the early days of the war to serve for some five years in the inner city parish of St.George in Dublin , he was quickly thrown into one of the busiest parishes in the country, teeming with social problems and with poverty and unemployment. What he gained from this experience was never to leave him, as there was never a person in need or in trouble that did not immediately attract his attention. This was followed by some three years in Belfast working with students chiefly in Queens University . During this period, he collaborated with his friend and contemporary the late Bishop Professor Richard Hanson on a theological and biblical study producing a book in both their names entitled “The Loom of God”

By this time the war was over, but there was a tremendous challenge for clergy to serve overseas and it was a call that Peter responded to and went to serve with the Dublin University Mission to Chota Nagpur in India at a crucial time in the history of that great nation. For fifteen years, he served in India , teaching, pastoring and proclaiming good news. He was Archdeacon of Hazaribagh, able to use to the full his remarkable leadership and teaching gifts. During this time, he was to marry his beloved Honor who was to become such a support and joy to him for the rest of his ministry and throughout those happy years of retirement.

And so in 1963, he returned to Ireland to work for seven years as Canon Theologian. He had special responsibility for the further education and in-service training of clergy, especially those junior in the ministry. It is well remembered that those who were prepared to do little study dreaded his presence, but those who persevered however slow they might be, or however hard they found their studies, found in Peter an encouraging and patient teacher. Those years in India had their effect on him. He had little time for the ease and comfort that we all have got used to these days. He had little time for lack of dedication and carelessness. He had worked with those who had so little, but yet were able to rejoice as if they had so much.

These were wonderful days as the young family grew up – Patrick first and then Christopher and Nicholas. Three sons of whom he was always so proud, and about whom he always spoke so warmly excited by what they were doing.

And so it was in 1970 that he came to Kilkenny, and where within months I had the privilege of joining him to serve my second curacy. These were exciting days. Peter was no puritan, but nothing could have been further from his expectation of this Cathedral city than a beer festival! He was the founder member of the Kilkenny Arts Week and its first chairman. His standards were of the highest, and he set the cultural life of this city on a new level. He rejoiced to see the heritage of this city enhanced – the splendid restoration of this Cathedral was under his leadership– and what delighted him too was the development of the Castle, Rothe House, and equally the Black Abbey, the home of Dominicans in this city. It was Peter who hosted the first ever ecumenical service in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 1972 attended by both bishops.

In the wider Church, Peter took on many responsibilities but one of the longest tasks entrusted to him was to lead the way for the Church to provide for those whose marriages had broken down to be married in church. This was controversial and was not to come to fulfilment until after his retirement, but was the result of his theological and practical mind full of compassion – coupled with that patience in teaching.

Peter cared for this parish and Cathedral for twenty years until he came to the age of seventy-five when all clergy must resign from office. The people here were visited, loved, cared for, taught and valued by Peter. Only the other day, I heard how this pastor sat with an old man long past reading, and read to him from “The Wind in the Willows”. There is more than one way of being a friend.

He and Honor were a wonderful couple at the very centre of this community. They went to retirement in Kilbrtittain in Co.Cork – the place that was truly home and where Honor had grown up. But retirement was only the beginning of another phase. I think one of the most wonderful things was that this great scholar and priest, pastor and teacher, was not about to give up – he became a Sunday School Teacher. This task and labour of love was one that he told me about – it was very aptly the continuation of his ministry – he still had good news to tell.

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching”

Today we thank God and commend to his gracious keeping one who lived out this vocation. It is no mistake that the text begins with almost haunting words about the God who is judge, the one whom we shall one day stand before, the one who is ruler of all – because this teacher of the faith, like the apostle of old never forgot the majesty of the God who is to be worshipped with reverence and awe. He introduced us in this Cathedral to that hymn no longer in the hymnbook – “God the all terrible; King, who ordainest”– but which goes on to speak of “God the all-merciful…”. In a way this theologian was able to hold these two aspects of the mystery of God together. However today we sing another hymn, written by one of his ancestors, Bishop Mant which speaks of God's glory in less startling terms “Bright the vision that delighted…” - “Lord, thy glory fills the heavens, earth is with thy fullness stored; unto thee be glory given, holy, holy, holy, Lord.”

  And so we give glory to God this afternoon for Brian Harvey – Peter – Priest, pastor, teacher of the faith. But we also give thanks for a husband and father – one for whom family was important – and one who was always so concerned for the young – And so to Patrick and Jane, and their children Isobel and Reuben, to Christopher and Jane, and to Nicholas we extend sympathy on the death of their father. But it is to Honor that we say a special word – what a wonderful wife and mother, and friend to us all – she gave Peter something very special – a happiness, and a fulfilment in life and a joy that made him into the man for whom today we give glory to God. Thank you Honor, and may God comfort each one of you in your sorrow. Peter – God grant to you to rest in peace, and to rise in glory. Thank you for what you have given us all.