Page 52 - The Old Ratcliffian 2013
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The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Obituaries
for a while, Novice Master at St Mary’s Derryswood, near A Tribute from Fr David Myers (59),
Guildford, which was over a period of nine years. This was Provincial
a mixed community, providing formation for those first
entering the Institute as novices, and also for those who When I was a young boy at Ratcliffe in 1953, a young
were pursuing their studies, mainly at the neighbouring priest appeared in the school and a boy whispered to me,
St John’s Seminary. In addition, there were some retired ‘That’s Fr Baxter – he’ll be President one day’. Having all
Rosminians, as well as a number of lay brothers who the talents, both in intellect and personality, that so marked
worked to support the house, in the kitchens, garden and him out from his very earliest days in the Order was both
laundry. During that time, he was also much sought after a blessing and, for Tony himself, must also have been
for advice by members of religious communities in the somewhat of a liability. Tony overcame the disadvantage of
Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, which he served as one of others putting him on a pedestal by not taking himself too
two Vicars for Religious. seriously.
Fr Tony served for many years on the Provincial Council, Many years later, and after my ordination, in 1972 I was
thus providing much appreciated wisdom and assistance to sent to teach at St Gregory’s, Huddersfield. It was then that
a number of Provincials; this was extended to the Institute I really got to know Tony well, both as a member of the
beyond the United Kingdom. He was elected to various community and as the Headmaster of the Grammar School.
Chapters and was deeply involved in the development of I was only with him in Huddersfield for two years before
the foundation document of the Rosminians, which was a he returned to Ratcliffe in 1973 to be President. Tony was
requirement of all religious congregations after the Second multi-faceted: as an extremely successful head teacher of
Vatican Council. His excellent command of Italian and a Catholic co-educational grammar school and a leading
his good working knowledge of Latin, in addition to his personality in the town, he formed friendships which lasted
practical experience, were invaluable in a process that was a lifetime. He was the genuine friend of so many people,
far from easy. from the retired caretaker of the school, to parents of
children who were having financial and social difficulties.
In due course he was, once more, able to return to parish He ran a wonderful school and was able to bring out the
ministry and he came back to St Joseph’s, Cardiff for six best in his staff. He loved his time in Huddersfield and,
years in 1990, this time as a parish priest, and became in turn, was admired and respected by the people of the
involved in the chaplaincy at the Heath Hospital. town. Although it is forty years since he left, Tony is still
In 1996, he went to St Mary Magdalene’s parish in remembered with affection and respect, as witnessed by
Bexhill-on-Sea, and was there until the Rosminians handed those who came to his funeral last year, and who are now
the parish back to the diocese in 2002. Fr Tony ended organising an Anniversary Mass, which is to be celebrated
his pastoral ministry at St Marie’s, Rugby, where he was for him on January 14th next year.
Assistant Priest and where he finally retired. Almost to After his nine years as President of the College, he spent
the end, he was esteemed for his advice and spiritual the next thirteen years working in parishes in Cardiff,
direction, and he was assiduous in visiting the sick and the Bexhill and Rugby, and then for seven years as Rector
housebound, even when he himself could be described as of Derryswood. Wherever Tony worked, he encouraged
fitting both categories! everyone he met - even the smile on his face was enough
I was a boy in my first year at Ratcliffe when Fr Tony was to make people feel better.
ordained priest in Nottingham in 1952 on the Feast of I worked again with Tony in Cardiff during the 1990s when
Saints Peter and Paul. As it was a holiday, some of us he was parish priest of St Joseph’s. Although twenty-five
went to serve at the ordination. This was a milestone in my years had passed since we had last worked together, the
life, as I was already thinking of becoming a Rosminian. same youthful, joyful spirit filled his life. He kept these
Years later, in 1966, when I celebrated my first Mass in St wonderful qualities to the end, even when he was over
Cuthbert’s, Bradford, Fr Tony assisted me at the altar and ninety years of age.
preached. To this day, I remember just a few of his words:
that a priest must not only celebrate Mass, he must live the Fr David Myers IC (59)
Mass daily. Fr Tony did just that throughout his priesthood, Provincial
both as a teacher and in parish ministry. For the last couple
of years, he was more or less confined to the presbytery in Fr Anthony Baxter, the Family Man
Rugby, yet in that time he was sought after as a popular
confessor and spiritual encourager. Most people would have known him as ‘Fr Baxter’ or ‘Fr
Tony’. To his brother’s children (his only nephews and
Fr Anthony can be justifiably described as ‘a model niece), he will always be ‘Uncle Tony’. For as long as I
religious’: he undertook works to which his natural can remember, Uncle Tony was a key part of our lives.
inclination would not likely have taken him, but always From all of our christenings and my parents’ funerals, to
tackled them, regardless, with wholehearted enthusiasm my own marriage to Katy and the christening of our son,
and commitment. He was loyal to the demands of the William, Uncle Tony always played an important spiritual
Church and to the founding principles of the Rosminians. role. However, he was more than a ‘family priest’. After the
Upon hearing of his death, Mrs Shaw (resident in Hong death of his brother (my father), Peter, in 1981, he took
Kong and whose son, Markus (79), was at Ratcliffe) said, on a very important role. He joined us on family holidays,
‘Now we have our friendly saint in Heaven’. helping to fill that fatherly void. He’d run on the beach,
The Very Rev Fr Anthony Meredith IC (57) swim in the sea and play endless games of Scrabble and
Vicar General, Rosminian Order
52
52
The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Obituaries
for a while, Novice Master at St Mary’s Derryswood, near A Tribute from Fr David Myers (59),
Guildford, which was over a period of nine years. This was Provincial
a mixed community, providing formation for those first
entering the Institute as novices, and also for those who When I was a young boy at Ratcliffe in 1953, a young
were pursuing their studies, mainly at the neighbouring priest appeared in the school and a boy whispered to me,
St John’s Seminary. In addition, there were some retired ‘That’s Fr Baxter – he’ll be President one day’. Having all
Rosminians, as well as a number of lay brothers who the talents, both in intellect and personality, that so marked
worked to support the house, in the kitchens, garden and him out from his very earliest days in the Order was both
laundry. During that time, he was also much sought after a blessing and, for Tony himself, must also have been
for advice by members of religious communities in the somewhat of a liability. Tony overcame the disadvantage of
Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, which he served as one of others putting him on a pedestal by not taking himself too
two Vicars for Religious. seriously.
Fr Tony served for many years on the Provincial Council, Many years later, and after my ordination, in 1972 I was
thus providing much appreciated wisdom and assistance to sent to teach at St Gregory’s, Huddersfield. It was then that
a number of Provincials; this was extended to the Institute I really got to know Tony well, both as a member of the
beyond the United Kingdom. He was elected to various community and as the Headmaster of the Grammar School.
Chapters and was deeply involved in the development of I was only with him in Huddersfield for two years before
the foundation document of the Rosminians, which was a he returned to Ratcliffe in 1973 to be President. Tony was
requirement of all religious congregations after the Second multi-faceted: as an extremely successful head teacher of
Vatican Council. His excellent command of Italian and a Catholic co-educational grammar school and a leading
his good working knowledge of Latin, in addition to his personality in the town, he formed friendships which lasted
practical experience, were invaluable in a process that was a lifetime. He was the genuine friend of so many people,
far from easy. from the retired caretaker of the school, to parents of
children who were having financial and social difficulties.
In due course he was, once more, able to return to parish He ran a wonderful school and was able to bring out the
ministry and he came back to St Joseph’s, Cardiff for six best in his staff. He loved his time in Huddersfield and,
years in 1990, this time as a parish priest, and became in turn, was admired and respected by the people of the
involved in the chaplaincy at the Heath Hospital. town. Although it is forty years since he left, Tony is still
In 1996, he went to St Mary Magdalene’s parish in remembered with affection and respect, as witnessed by
Bexhill-on-Sea, and was there until the Rosminians handed those who came to his funeral last year, and who are now
the parish back to the diocese in 2002. Fr Tony ended organising an Anniversary Mass, which is to be celebrated
his pastoral ministry at St Marie’s, Rugby, where he was for him on January 14th next year.
Assistant Priest and where he finally retired. Almost to After his nine years as President of the College, he spent
the end, he was esteemed for his advice and spiritual the next thirteen years working in parishes in Cardiff,
direction, and he was assiduous in visiting the sick and the Bexhill and Rugby, and then for seven years as Rector
housebound, even when he himself could be described as of Derryswood. Wherever Tony worked, he encouraged
fitting both categories! everyone he met - even the smile on his face was enough
I was a boy in my first year at Ratcliffe when Fr Tony was to make people feel better.
ordained priest in Nottingham in 1952 on the Feast of I worked again with Tony in Cardiff during the 1990s when
Saints Peter and Paul. As it was a holiday, some of us he was parish priest of St Joseph’s. Although twenty-five
went to serve at the ordination. This was a milestone in my years had passed since we had last worked together, the
life, as I was already thinking of becoming a Rosminian. same youthful, joyful spirit filled his life. He kept these
Years later, in 1966, when I celebrated my first Mass in St wonderful qualities to the end, even when he was over
Cuthbert’s, Bradford, Fr Tony assisted me at the altar and ninety years of age.
preached. To this day, I remember just a few of his words:
that a priest must not only celebrate Mass, he must live the Fr David Myers IC (59)
Mass daily. Fr Tony did just that throughout his priesthood, Provincial
both as a teacher and in parish ministry. For the last couple
of years, he was more or less confined to the presbytery in Fr Anthony Baxter, the Family Man
Rugby, yet in that time he was sought after as a popular
confessor and spiritual encourager. Most people would have known him as ‘Fr Baxter’ or ‘Fr
Tony’. To his brother’s children (his only nephews and
Fr Anthony can be justifiably described as ‘a model niece), he will always be ‘Uncle Tony’. For as long as I
religious’: he undertook works to which his natural can remember, Uncle Tony was a key part of our lives.
inclination would not likely have taken him, but always From all of our christenings and my parents’ funerals, to
tackled them, regardless, with wholehearted enthusiasm my own marriage to Katy and the christening of our son,
and commitment. He was loyal to the demands of the William, Uncle Tony always played an important spiritual
Church and to the founding principles of the Rosminians. role. However, he was more than a ‘family priest’. After the
Upon hearing of his death, Mrs Shaw (resident in Hong death of his brother (my father), Peter, in 1981, he took
Kong and whose son, Markus (79), was at Ratcliffe) said, on a very important role. He joined us on family holidays,
‘Now we have our friendly saint in Heaven’. helping to fill that fatherly void. He’d run on the beach,
The Very Rev Fr Anthony Meredith IC (57) swim in the sea and play endless games of Scrabble and
Vicar General, Rosminian Order
52
52
