The 95th Archbishop of York, Lord John Staplyton Habgood was remembered by friends and family at York Minster on Thursday 27th June.

To begin the celebration of his life, Lord Habgood’s son, Francis, regaled York Minster with reminiscences of family life. These were fond memories of a man who was a father, a friend, and a predecessor, and all commented on the introspection and thoughtfulness that ran like a golden thread through his personality and life. R S Thomas’ poems ‘The Journey’ and ‘The Bright Field’, read by Canon Dr Richard Shephard, were next.

The tribute from Bishop David Wilbourne followed the anthem ‘never weather beaten sail’ by Campion, as he reminisced the hundreds of hours spent in the quiet company of Lord Habgood throughout years of Lents, with the silence only really being broken once to turn down a bacon sandwich. Bishop David, who was Archbishop Habgood’s Chaplain, said of the silence that often surrounded Lord Habgood that it was sometimes judgemental, or scary, and often made you want to fill it with babbling, but under it all an ineffable love and understanding could be felt.

Lord Habgood’s son, Adrian, read from Isaiah 40:1-11, followed by the choir singing the haunting strains of Psalm 121. The Reverend Canon Bob Rogers read the Gospel reading; John 14:1-6, after which, Dr John Sentamu gave his address. He spoke of Lord Habgood’s tendency ‘to spend roughly an hour every day doing nothing but thinking’, not breaking this time of self-reflection for anybody. The address was followed by prayers from Sister Alison OHP, who thanked God for Lord Habgood’s ‘ability to see all sides of the equation’.

But perhaps the words that most summed up Lord Habgood came from his son, Francis, who ended his memories of his father with the words he had started them with; ‘What was it like having a famous father? There was no difference, except he shared his guiding influence, encyclopedic knowledge, and kindness with the world’.